Trump administration prohibits Harvard from accessing new federal research funding
To regain its eligibility, the official stated that the university "would have to enter into a negotiation with the government to satisfy the government that it's in compliance with all federal laws."
TroibNews 
The Trump administration has declared that Harvard University will no longer be eligible to receive new federal research grants, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the White House and the renowned institution.
In a letter dispatched Monday to Harvard President Alan Garber, Education Secretary Linda McMahon criticized the university for "engaging in a systemic pattern of violating federal law" and stated that the university would be ineligible for federal funds.
"This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided," she wrote. "Harvard will cease to be a publicly funded institution, and can instead operate as a privately-funded institution, drawing on its colossal endowment, and raising money from its large base of wealthy alumni. You have an approximately $53 Billion head start."
This new limitation follows a series of investigations initiated by various agencies into Harvard after Garber declined to meet a set of demands from the federal antisemitism task force. The requests included alterations to the university's hiring practices, admissions processes, disciplinary actions, and programming—demands that the university has described as unreasonable and an infringement on its autonomy.
During a press call on Monday, a senior department official emphasized the administration's concerns regarding Harvard's inadequate response to antisemitism on campus, allegations of racial discrimination stemming from the student-led Harvard Law Review, a perceived decline in academic rigor due to modified admissions criteria, and accusations of plagiarism involving prominent leaders. The official also noted the alleged lack of viewpoint diversity within the university.
The administration has already placed a freeze on more than $2.2 billion in funding, according to the official, and Harvard currently has around $8 billion in federal grants and contracts. Additionally, the official pointed out the university's substantial endowment, which exceeds $53 billion and was made possible “thanks for the blessings of the country that they do business in.”
McMahon, in her letter, also criticized notable Democrats who have taught at Harvard, including former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, describing them as "perhaps the worst mayors ever to preside over major cities." She referred to Penny Pritzker, a senior fellow at Harvard Corp. and former secretary of commerce under Obama, as "catastrophic," highlighting billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman’s call for her resignation.
A spokesperson for the university did not provide a response to a request for comments.
To regain its eligibility for federal funding, the official indicated that Harvard "would have to enter into a negotiation with the government to satisfy the government that it's in compliance with all federal laws."
McMahon's letter characterized the demands as "common-sense reforms" that the "Administration remains committed to." These reforms include merit-based admissions and hiring practices, as well as the termination of "unlawful programs that promote crude identity stereotypes," among other stipulations.
“The Trump administration won't stand by as taxpayer dollars are used to support colleges that tolerate antisemitism or that support racist policies,” the department official stated, adding that Harvard “can prioritize indoctrination, remedial classes for students, if they like,” using its extensive endowment.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
In a letter dispatched Monday to Harvard President Alan Garber, Education Secretary Linda McMahon criticized the university for "engaging in a systemic pattern of violating federal law" and stated that the university would be ineligible for federal funds.
"This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided," she wrote. "Harvard will cease to be a publicly funded institution, and can instead operate as a privately-funded institution, drawing on its colossal endowment, and raising money from its large base of wealthy alumni. You have an approximately $53 Billion head start."
This new limitation follows a series of investigations initiated by various agencies into Harvard after Garber declined to meet a set of demands from the federal antisemitism task force. The requests included alterations to the university's hiring practices, admissions processes, disciplinary actions, and programming—demands that the university has described as unreasonable and an infringement on its autonomy.
During a press call on Monday, a senior department official emphasized the administration's concerns regarding Harvard's inadequate response to antisemitism on campus, allegations of racial discrimination stemming from the student-led Harvard Law Review, a perceived decline in academic rigor due to modified admissions criteria, and accusations of plagiarism involving prominent leaders. The official also noted the alleged lack of viewpoint diversity within the university.
The administration has already placed a freeze on more than $2.2 billion in funding, according to the official, and Harvard currently has around $8 billion in federal grants and contracts. Additionally, the official pointed out the university's substantial endowment, which exceeds $53 billion and was made possible “thanks for the blessings of the country that they do business in.”
McMahon, in her letter, also criticized notable Democrats who have taught at Harvard, including former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, describing them as "perhaps the worst mayors ever to preside over major cities." She referred to Penny Pritzker, a senior fellow at Harvard Corp. and former secretary of commerce under Obama, as "catastrophic," highlighting billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman’s call for her resignation.
A spokesperson for the university did not provide a response to a request for comments.
To regain its eligibility for federal funding, the official indicated that Harvard "would have to enter into a negotiation with the government to satisfy the government that it's in compliance with all federal laws."
McMahon's letter characterized the demands as "common-sense reforms" that the "Administration remains committed to." These reforms include merit-based admissions and hiring practices, as well as the termination of "unlawful programs that promote crude identity stereotypes," among other stipulations.
“The Trump administration won't stand by as taxpayer dollars are used to support colleges that tolerate antisemitism or that support racist policies,” the department official stated, adding that Harvard “can prioritize indoctrination, remedial classes for students, if they like,” using its extensive endowment.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
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