Trump's pressure campaign continues against Harvard

Why it matters: Making Harvard pay taxes would be a significant escalation in the Trump administration's campaign against the elite university, an institution that's a cornerstone of the Massachusetts economy and local culture.

• Harvard saves hundreds of millions of dollars annually by being exempt from federal income and property taxes.
• Officials from the school warned that being stripped of tax-exempt status would have "grave consequences" for private higher education.

Catch up quick: The White House is coming down on Harvard in several ways.

• The Department of Homeland Security ordered the school to turn over "detailed records" on foreign students in a search for "illegal and violent activities" by the end of the month.
• The federal government already froze more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard, leading to stop-work orders on research into illnesses like ALS and tuberculosis.

By the numbers: Harvard's endowment stands around $53.2 billion, but much of that money can't be used to backfill cuts because of restrictions set by donors.

• The university provided $749 million in financial aid in fiscal year 2024.

• Annual operating expenses stand at around $6.4 billion.

What they're saying: Harvard maintains there is "no legal basis" to rescind its tax-exempt status, warning such an action would lead to "diminished financial aid for students, abandonment of critical medical research programs, and lost opportunities for innovation," according to the Boston Herald.

Zoom out: Cambridge officials are concerned about potential ripple effects on the surrounding community anchored by Harvard.

• City Councilor Patricia Nolan told GBH News the city is making contingency plans and is aware Cambridge itself could suffer.
• "We have to be very careful with our own funding because we will be a target just like Harvard," Nolan said.