Hundreds of Harvard University students staged a mass protest Tuesday after the US President Donald Trump’s administration announced it would cancel all remaining federal contracts with the university, an aggressive move estimated to cost the institution $100 million.The decision, part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping crackdown on elite universities he accuses of fostering liberal bias and antisemitism, triggered immediate backlash on campus. Protesters rallied against what many see as an authoritarian overreach designed to punish academic independence and international inclusion.Students rally amid graduation weekGathering near Harvard Yard just days before graduation, students waved placards and chanted slogans like “Trump = traitor” and “Who belongs in class today? Let them stay!”, a direct reference to Trump’s revocation of Harvard’s accreditation to the US student and exchange visitor program. The move puts thousands of international students and scholars in limbo, with many now facing deportation or forced transfers.“I’m graduating this week, and instead of celebrating, I’m here protesting,” said senior Alice Goyer, donning her academic gown. “My international classmates don’t know if they’ll even be allowed to stay.”The department of homeland security had previously revoked Harvard’s authorisation to host foreign students, one of several punitive measures aimed at forcing the university to overhaul its curriculum, admissions process, and DEI programs.Trump’s escalating war on academiaThe financial cuts announced Tuesday are the latest in a series of attacks against Harvard by the Trump administration. Billions in federal grants have already been frozen, and multiple legal challenges are now underway to overturn the measures.On Monday, Trump doubled down, labelling foreign students at Harvard as “radicalised lunatics” and vowing to “purge the system.”Legal experts say the administration’s actions are unlikely to hold up in court. “The case is so strong that the courts will not let this stand,” said Ray Brescia, a law professor at Albany Law School.Courts intervene — for nowA judge has issued a temporary restraining order on the student and exchange visitor program revocation, with a full hearing scheduled for Thursday, coinciding with Harvard’s commencement ceremony.The stakes are high for international students, who make up 27% of Harvard’s student body. Many now fear they may be forced to leave the country just as they complete their degrees.British student Jack, who declined to give his full name, said the fallout could impact Harvard’s global standing. “The cloud may pass, but the damage is done. If I were applying for a PhD today, I wouldn’t choose the US.”Alumni, faculty join legal pushbackAlumni are also stepping in. On June 9, a group called Crimson Courage plans to file a class-action lawsuit against the administration. Faculty members say the standoff has already harmed Harvard’s academic reputation.“I’ve had colleagues abroad tell me they’re now warning students against applying to US universities,” said Professor Ryan Enos at the rally. “It’s heartbreaking.”California governor Gavin Newsom, who has clashed with Trump on education policy, called the attacks on Harvard “a betrayal of American values.”
