Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, May 6: In a dramatic move that has further inflamed tensions between the White House and top academic institutions, the Trump administration has announced a freeze on billions of dollars in future federal grants to Harvard University, citing alleged antisemitism on campus and ideological bias.
US Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in a letter to the Ivy League university, declared that Harvard would no longer be eligible to apply for federal grants, stating, "This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided." The letter also accused the university of straying from “academic excellence,” citing concerns over its hiring practices and its handling of campus protests.
The freeze comes in the wake of nationwide campus demonstrations supporting Palestinian rights, many of which have drawn criticism from conservative circles and Trump himself, who has alleged these rallies are antisemitic and sympathetic to Hamas. Protesters, including many Jewish students and faculty, deny the allegations, asserting that their opposition is directed at Israeli military actions in Gaza and not at the Jewish community.
Harvard University, in a strongly worded response, condemned the move as “illegal government overreach” and warned that the funding freeze could severely impact life-saving research and academic projects. “Harvard will continue to defend research, innovation, and the constitutional rights of free expression and academic freedom,” a university spokesperson said.
The administration’s letter follows a broader campaign by former President Trump to assert control over institutions receiving federal funds. Recent demands to Harvard included eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, cracking down on student protestors, and increasing conservative faculty representation.
While Harvard sits on a $53 billion endowment—the largest of any university in the US—officials have argued that many of these funds are restricted and cannot be diverted to cover the gaps created by the withdrawal of federal support.
Legal experts have raised concerns about the administration’s attempt to withhold grants over policy disagreements. Harvard has already sued the Trump administration over the suspension of $2.3 billion in ongoing federal funding, warning of “real-life consequences” for patients, students, and researchers.
With the federal review into $9 billion in grants still ongoing, the dispute now appears headed for a high-stakes legal and political showdown over the future of higher education in the United States.