Trump Administration Cancels Additional $450 Million in Harvard Grants

Trump Administration Escalates Funding Cuts to Harvard

In a striking move, the Trump administration announced on Tuesday a cancellation of an additional $450 million in grants for Harvard University, escalating tensions in an ongoing confrontation between the federal government and America’s oldest institution of higher learning. The decision arrives amidst a backdrop of multiple investigations into Harvard by the Trump administration. While officials didn’t disclose new accusations in this recent announcement, they condemned the university for failing to address what they termed “pervasive race discrimination and antisemitism” troubling the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Details on Specific Grants Remain Unclear

This latest cut is layered on top of a previously frozen amount of $2.2 billion, which has been at the heart of a larger conflict dating back to March. Federal officials have not specified which particular grants are affected in this instance, but they did mention that eight federal agencies participated in the funding cut. The task force, focused on antisemitism, claimed that Harvard’s choice to focus on avoidance rather than accountability has undermined its eligibility for taxpayer support.

Harvard’s Leadership Defends University Amidst Funding Cuts

In response to these developments, a Harvard spokesman has yet to provide comments. The clash had ramped up significantly when the task force kicked off a review of $9 billion in federal funding tied to the university and its affiliates. Harvard has resisted federal demands, which they deemed intrusive, and has sought to challenge the $2.2 billion grant suspension through legal avenues. Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently urged the institution not to seek any future federal grants. However, responding on Monday, Harvard’s president, Alan M. Garber, noted shared priorities with the administration in combating antisemitism and other forms of bigotry on campus, hinting at the complexities of this ongoing situation.