The Trump Administration Cuts Additional $450 Million in Harvard Grants
In a dramatic development, the Trump administration has announced an additional $450 million cut in federal grants to Harvard University. This move follows Harvard’s recent efforts to address accusations of extreme liberalism and antisemitism on its campus.
The latest reduction in funding was triggered by a letter from a federal antisemitism task force to Harvard, informing them of the grant cuts from eight federal agencies. This action is on top of the $2.2 billion in funds that were already frozen last month and the administration’s prior declaration that Harvard would no longer receive future federal grants.
Harvard University’s president, Alan Garber, had sent a letter to Linda McMahon, the Secretary of Education, detailing the university’s initiatives to tackle antisemitism and discrimination. Garber firmly denied that the institution was politically biased, asserting that Harvard is, “not an arm of any political party” and would never be. Despite these clarifications, the administration proceeded with the funding cuts.
The correspondence from the task force, signed by officials from the Education Department, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration, accused Harvard of becoming “a breeding ground” for discrimination. The letter indicated that Harvard’s leadership had compromised its entitlement to public funding.
In response, Harvard has filed a lawsuit to contest the federal funding freeze. The university has updated its legal action to incorporate the recent grant reductions, arguing that these measures are illegal and jeopardize academic freedom and First Amendment rights. The case is scheduled to go to trial in July.
Elissa Nadworny, NPR News.
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