Harvard University is facing a $2.2 billion freeze in federal funds after refusing to comply with sweeping demands from the Trump administration, which Harvard leaders say would infringe on academic independence and constitutional rights.
In an open letter Monday, Harvard President Alan Garber firmly rejected the administration’s April 11 proposal that would have required audits of hiring, admissions, and “viewpoint diversity” across departments. “We will not surrender our independence or relinquish our constitutional rights,” Garber wrote, later adding that compliance would amount to direct government regulation of higher education.
Within hours, the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced a freeze on all relevant funding and up to $60 million in multi-year contracts. While framed as a response to antisemitism, Harvard contends the demands go far beyond civil rights enforcement and are politically motivated.
Other elite institutions, such as Columbia University, are negotiating with the administration. Harvard is the most prominent university to outright reject the conditions, even as programs for Alzheimer’s, AI, and other critical research face severe funding disruption.
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