Universities in the United States are up in arms over a decision on Monday by President Donald Trump to freeze $2.2 billion in research grants and contracts to Harvard University after it refused to comply with a set of policy directives from the White House, which include ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The Trump administration claims the proposed changes aim to curb antisemitism amid ongoing campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Officials accused Harvard of breaching federal civil rights requirements, but Harvard President Alan Garber pushed back, declaring the university would not compromise its autonomy or constitutional rights.
Trump went on to add on Tuesday that Harvard University could lose its tax exempt status and be taxed as a political entity after the school’s decision. “Perhaps Harvard should lose its tax exempt status and be taxed as a political entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness’?” he said in a post on Truth Social.
Commenting on the news, former U.S. president Barack Obama praised Harvard for refusing to give in to Trump’s demands. “Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions — rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect,” Obama said via his X account.
The Trump administration’s decision extends beyond Harvard. Visa revocations for international students and researchers have started, and other elite institutions like Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, and Northwestern have faced similar funding freezes. Columbia struck a partial deal after losing $400 million in grants, while Princeton’s president likened the situation to the 1950s Red Scare.
Harvard has filed a lawsuit to challenge the cuts, arguing that the federal action is politically motivated retaliation against academic freedom.
