Trump admin to halt new grant funding to Harvard
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A view of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 22. Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Trump administration announced Monday it's pausing all new federal grant funding for Harvard.
The big picture: The Ivy League university has been at the center of President Trump's escalating war against colleges and universities as he seeks to influence and reorient their priorities through federal funds.
- Harvard is currently suing the administration, which froze $2.2 billion in federal funds after the university rejected a litany of its demands.
- Trump has since made a legally dubious threat to strip Harvard's tax-exempt status, which could cost the university hundreds of millions a year.
Driving the news: Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a letter to Harvard president Alan Garber on Monday that the university "should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government since none will be provided."
- She said the school has "disastrous mismanagement" and has "made a mockery of this country's higher education system."
- McMahon accused the university of violating federal law, "ugly racism" and "humiliating plagiarism scandals" along with "other concerning allegations."
- She said the university will cease to be a publicly funded institution.
The other side: A Harvard spokesperson told Axios in an emailed statement that the letter doubles down "on demands that would impose unprecedented and improper control over Harvard University and would have chilling implications for higher education."
- It "makes new threats to illegally withhold funding for lifesaving research and innovation in retaliation against Harvard for filing its lawsuit," the spokesperson said, adding that Harvard will continue to comply with the law and "defend against illegal government overreach."
What they're saying: "If Harvard prefers not to change, then Harvard should have no problem using its overflowing endowment to fund its bloated bureaucracy," McMahon wrote.
Between the lines: While the top universities Trump is targeting for federal funding cuts are sitting on billions in endowments, schools often can't tap into that cash to fill the gaps.
More from Axios:
- Trump's tax fight with Harvard sends chill through nonprofit sector
- Trump admin launches race-based discrimination probe into Harvard Law Review
- Harvard sues Trump administration over funding freeze
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a Harvard statement.
