IBL News | New York
The U.S. Department of Education informed Harvard University on Monday that it was freezing billions of dollars in future research grants and other aid until the institution concedes to several demands from the Trump administration.
A letter from Secretary Linda McMahon said university leaders must address concerns about antisemitism on campus, school policies that consider a student’s race, and complaints from the administration that the university has abandoned before receiving additional federal grants.
“This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided,” McMahon wrote.
The Trump administration has targeted Harvard over allegations of antisemitism on campus during pro-Palestinian protests. The protests were sparked by U.S. ally Israel’s military assault on Gaza after the October 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has escalated its actions against Harvard.
In April, Harvard rejected numerous Trump demands, calling them an attack on free speech and academic freedom. It sued the Trump administration after suspending about $2.3 billion in federal funding for educational institutions while also pledging to tackle discrimination on campus.
In its lawsuit against the Trump administration, Harvard said the government’s funding cuts will have stark “real-life consequences for patients, students, faculty, staff, (and) researchers” and jeopardize crucial medical and scientific research.
Harvard has a $53 billion endowment, the largest of any U.S. university, but the funds are often restricted and used for financial aid and scholarships.
