U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended funding of over $2 billion allocated for Harvard University after the institution failed to comply with a list of demands issued by the White House.
According to the White House, these demands were part of an effort to combat antisemitism and included changes in recruitment, admissions, and curriculum policies. However, Harvard rejected the demands, claiming that the government is attempting to control its academic independence.
Trump, since his re-election, has been pressuring elite universities with threats of funding cuts to force institutional reforms. Harvard is the first major university to openly reject the White House’s conditions, arguing that such demands threaten its autonomy.
The New York Times recently published the letter sent by the White House, which stated that Harvard failed to protect civil rights and meet government standards for receiving federal funding.
The key demands from the White House included:
Reporting students who display hostility toward American values.
Ensuring all departments demonstrate visible diversity.
Appointing government-backed external committees in departments allegedly promoting antisemitism.
Investigating faculty members for potential plagiarism or misconduct.
Additionally, the White House called for legal action against any violations that may have occurred during pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
In response, Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not surrender its independence to the government. While acknowledging the importance of combating antisemitism, he stated that most of the demands were aimed at taking control over university operations.