President Donald Trump, the US president, has faced its strongest pushback when Harvard rejects a string of demands from his administration, pressured the university to abolish diversity, equity and inclusion measures and punish student protesters.
Monday’s decision prompted the U.S. Department of Education to freeze nearly $2.3 billion in federal funding from Ivy League agencies, ranked among the top universities in the United States.
In his response on his true social platform on Tuesday morning, Trump accused Harvard of pushing the concept of “political, ideological and terrorist-inspired” rather than acting in the public interest.
So what happened between Harvard and Trump, and why did the agency risk billions of dollars to violate the administration’s demands?
What did the Trump administration ask to do?
The U.S. Department of Education, Health and Human Services and the Department of General Services co-signed a letter to Harvard on Friday. In the letter, they argued that “Harvard has been able to address both intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment in recent years.”
This was followed by a list of requests for a university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Among them, the following are important:
Committed to the Trump administration’s Harvard request, made clear in the letter, and encouraged “reducing the strength” of faculty and administrators who are “committed to activities rather than scholarships.” By August, all positive actions will be completed in faculty employment and student hospitalization. At the same time, the letter called for universities to ensure “diversity of perspectives” by abolishing the standards during enrollment and abolishing the standards during the recruitment process “which acts as an ideological litmus test.” Changes to the admissions process “to prevent recognition of international students who are hostile to American values,” including “students who support terrorism and anti-Semitism.” This letter did not define the meaning of “American values.” During the 2024-2025 academic year, Harvard University had 6,793 international students, accounting for 27.2% of total enrollment, up from less than 20% between 2006 and 2007. Prohibiting the recognition and funding of student groups or clubs that promote changes in disciplinary policies and “criminal conduct, illegal violence, or illegal harassment.” After some students protest while wearing masks, they will implement a comprehensive mask ban with immediate and serious penalties for violations “more than a pause”; The letter did not list any exceptions to this rule, such as health reasons. We will close all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and offices and implement organizational reforms to ensure transparency with federal regulators.
Harvard was given an August deadline to implement these changes. This is the second letter issued by the Trump administration to Harvard. The first was published on April 3, calling on Harvards to ban facial masks that they allegedly committed guilty of anti-Semitism bias and to reform faculty. Since widespread campus protests against the war in Gaza, anti-Semitism accusations against many American universities and universities have been levelled.
How did Harvard respond to the request?
Harvard’s lawyers responded to the Trump administration, claiming that the university rejected the request and violated the initial rights and freedoms granted by the U.S. Supreme Court. The first amendments to the US Constitution support freedom of speech, expression and Congressional rights.
The university said Harvard University is strongly opposed to anti-Semitism and continues to make structural changes to ensure that the institution is a welcoming and supportive learning environment for all students.
The university also published another letter online signed by President Alan Gerber on Monday. In the letter, Gerber said federal grants have led to research and innovation in areas related to science and medicine. “These innovations have made countless people in our country healthier and safer,” he writes.
The letter noted how the government threatened to withdraw federal funds from several universities, including Harvard, over anti-Semitism allegations on campus. The letter said the government has retreated from fundraising agreements with higher education institutions.
The Harvard letter stated that while some of the government’s demands are aimed at combating anti-Semitism, “the majority represent direct government regulations of Harvard’s “intellectual conditions.”
“The university will not waive independence or waive constitutional rights,” Gerber added.
The Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston on Friday, denounced the Trump administration “an illegal and unprecedented misuse of federal funds and civil rights enforcement agencies to undermine academic freedom and free speech on university campuses.”
In his latest online post, Trump wrote: Don’t forget that your tax-free status is entirely conditional on acting in the public interest! ”
What is the background behind this standoff?
In January 2024, Gerber established a presidential task force on campus, which fought anti-Semitism and Israeli war with Gaza, fighting bias between Muslims and Arabs, sparked tensions on campuses around the world, including the United States.
In April 2024, ProPalestinian protesters established an encampment on the Harvard University campus. Protesters demanded that Harvard University sell from arms companies and businesses related to Israel.
At the time, Gerber said the hoops disrupt educational activities on campus. In May, the university and protesters said they had reached an agreement to end the camp, but the parties gave different explanations on the terms of the agreement.
Student protesters said Harvard agreed to their demands, but the university was open only to dialogue on demands. For example, in relation to students’ requests to universities from companies with ties to Israel, Harvard said he agreed to be more transparent with students about how the donations work.
How much federal funds can Harvard lose?
On Monday, hours after Harvard’s response, the task force created to tackle anti-Semitism by the U.S. Department of Education issued a statement announcing $2.3 billion in federal funding for the university has been frozen.
“Harvard’s statement today reinforces the mindset of endemic and nasty rights at the most prestigious universities and universities in our country. The frozen federal funds to Harvard include $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts, the statement added.
However, it costs more – about $9 billion. On March 31, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of General Services issued a statement considering a $255.6 million contract between the federal government, Harvard and its affiliates. The statement added that it will review more than $8.7 billion in its multi-year grant commitments to Harvard and its affiliates.
Harvard University’s contributions reached $53.2 billion in 2024. This is the biggest of any university. However, donors determine which programs, departments, and objectives are spent on 70% of the annual donation distribution. Donations also fell by $151 million in 2024 as hundreds of millions of dollars of donors stopped funding facilities over their response to anti-Semitism concerns on campus.
How did things unfold at other US universities?
Harvard is the first university to reject the Trump administration’s request, but it is not the first Ivy League school to be targeted.
Last year, Columbia University in New York emerged as the epicenter of protests on its pro-Palestinian campus. Protesters occupied Hamilton Hall on campus on April 30th. The university called the New York Police Department to crack down on student protesters.
In February, the Trump administration pulled back federal funds in Columbia, worth $400 million and said it “could not protect Jewish students from anti-Semite harassment.” In March, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Colombian graduate and protest leader who negotiated with the university during a campus demonstration. A few days ago, the US Department of State revoked the visa for Ranjani Srinivasan, a candidate for urban planning in Colombia. Soon, Colombia invaded Srinivasan. Srinivasan flew to Canada before she was deported.
On March 13, the Joint Task Force of the Government to Fight Anti-Semitism issued a letter to Colombia with nine requests for negotiations to restore the funds cited. On March 18, Colombia accepted the government’s request as stated in the new memo. The memo said students must present university identification if prompted to protest. He added that face masks are prohibited if they are used to hide a person’s identity. However, for religious or medical reasons, face coverings are still permitted. The memo also added that Columbia has hired 36 security guards with special authority to arrest students, and the university continues to rely on New York police for additional security assistance.
Over the past few weeks, the Trump administration has suspended or frozen funds for Princeton, Cornell and Northwestern University. The university responded by expressing frustration and highlighting how federal funding is important for critical research.
On April 11, the U.S. Department of Energy, which funds research at many universities, announced a universal cap on the indirect costs of funding for projects it supports. The agency said this would save the government 405 beans a year.
Since then, nine universities and three institutions representing higher education institutions have filed lawsuits challenging the limit. Plaintiffs in this suit include the American Association of Universities, American Education Association, Brown University, California Institute of Technology, Cornell University, University of Illinois, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Regent of the University of Michigan, and the trustees of the University of Michigan University of Roches;
What’s your response to the Harvard dispute with Trump?
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said: “We congratulated Harvard on Monday for refusing to waive Trump’s constitutional rights to authoritarianism.
Congratulations to Harvard for refusing to waive Trump’s constitutional rights to authoritarianism.
Other universities should follow their lead.
And instead of doing free jobs for Trump, coli law firms should advocate for those who believe in the rule of law.
– Bernie Sanders (@berniesanders) April 14, 2025
Former US President Barack Obama posted Tuesday: “Harvard has set an example for other institutions of higher education. It rejects Hamm’s illegal attempts to curb academic freedom.”
Harvard University sets an example for other institutions of higher education. While rejecting illegal hamhand attempts to curb academic freedom, we are taking concrete steps to ensure that all Harvard students can benefit from intellectual research, rigorous discussion and… https://t.co/gau9uqgjf’s environment.
– Barack Obama (@barackobama) April 15, 2025
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy posted a statement about the X congratulations to Harvard to confront the Trump administration’s brave attempts to bully schools under the false pretext of civil rights and weaponize the US Department of Justice.
My statement regarding @Harvard’s response to a request from the Trump administration. pic.twitter.com/iya7lsg7ix
– Maura Healy (@massgovernor) April 14, 2025
