The Trump administration has announced that Harvard University will be barred from receiving any new federal research grants until it complies with a set of demands laid out by the White House. The move escalates a months-long standoff between the administration and the Ivy League institution, amid accusations that Harvard has failed in its responsibilities regarding antisemitism, academic standards, and campus management.
In a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, Education Secretary Linda McMahon accused the university of “consistent violations of its legal duties” and declared that the institution will no longer be eligible for publicly funded research. “Harvard has made a mockery of this country’s higher education system,” McMahon wrote, citing the school’s handling of protests, foreign student admissions, and diversity initiatives as key concerns.
The action does not affect student financial aid or federal loan programmes, but it could impact more than $1 billion annually in research funding. The administration had already frozen $2.2 billion in ongoing multi-year grants.
Federal pressure mounts over campus policy and free speech
The administration is demanding wide-ranging changes from Harvard, including the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, stricter control over protests, mandatory merit-based admissions and hiring, and increased viewpoint diversity among faculty. Additionally, the White House is pressuring the university to review its international student programme and report any foreign student found to have violated codes of conduct or expressed anti-American sentiment.
A senior official said Harvard must demonstrate “responsible management” and enter into negotiations with federal agencies to resolve ongoing investigations, including several civil rights inquiries launched in early 2025. The administration has also threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and block it from hosting foreign students unless its demands are met.
Garber has refused to comply, stating that “no government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of inquiry they can pursue.” Harvard has filed a lawsuit, describing the funding freeze as “arbitrary and capricious,” and a violation of the university’s First Amendment rights.
Despite its $53 billion endowment, federal funding makes up over 10% of Harvard’s annual revenue. The Trump administration’s measures come amid a broader push to reshape higher education institutions it accuses of ideological bias and inadequate protection of Jewish students.
Negotiations remain possible, but until Harvard agrees to the administration’s conditions, it faces exclusion from new federal research opportunities.
Trump vs Harvard
The feud between Harvard University and the Trump administration has intensified rapidly since January 2025, when President Trump signed an executive order targeting antisemitism on college campuses. The Department of Justice and Education swiftly followed up with investigations, meetings, and funding threats. In March, Harvard was officially placed under review, with billions in federal grants at stake.
By April, the administration demanded sweeping changes, including the closure of DEI programmes and reforms to admissions and foreign student policies. Harvard refused, calling the demands unconstitutional. As tensions peaked, the administration froze $2.2 billion in funding and declared the university ineligible for new grants.
On May 6, all research funding was halted, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon accusing Harvard of failing to address antisemitism and uphold academic standards. The university has responded with legal action, claiming government overreach and a violation of its independence. The standoff now marks a pivotal moment in the national culture war.
