Harvard University refuses to meet a series of Trump administration demands, potentially risking billions in federal funds.
In A letter on MondayThe president of Harvard University, Alan Garber, said the school “will not deliver its independence or will resign from its constitutional rights” by accepting a series of terms proposed by the Trump administration.
The Trump administration demanded that Harvard finish its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, adopt admissions based on merits and cooperate with immigration authorities, or the risk of losing $ 9 billion in federal funds. Garber at that time said that the loss of funds “would stop the investigation to save lives.”
Harvard’s rejection of Trump’s demands marks the first time a majority university has rejected the financing threats made by the Trump administration.
In a letter on Friday, the Trump administration argued that the school “could not meet the conditions of intellectual and civil rights that justify federal investment” and proposed the terms, including the change in school governance, adopt hiring based on merit, close any program of DEI and allow “audit” to guarantee the “diversity of views”.
In response, Harvard president said the school is committed to making changes to create a “cozy and support learning environment” and reaffirmed the vote of the school to combat anti -Semitism. However, he argued that Trump’s administration requests would go too far.
A person goes to Elliot House at Harvard University, on March 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Scott Eisen/Getty Images
“The prescription of the administration goes beyond the power of the federal government. Viola the rights of the first amendment of Harvard and exceeds the legal limits of the government’s authority under Title VI,” Garber wrote. “And threatens our values as a private institution dedicated to the search, production and dissemination of knowledge. No government, regardless of what party is in power, should dictate which private universities can teach, who can admit and hire, and what areas of study and research can do.”
The confrontation follows similar actions against other prestigious universities. Last month, Columbia University agreed to meet the demands of the administration with respect to the policies and governance of the campus after its federal financing was suspended after campus protests. The agreement occurred after the administration cited concerns about anti -Semitism and public safety.
The Department of Education has also initiated research at the University of Cornell and the University of the Northwest, according to White House officials. The Trump administration has arrested more than $ 1 billion in federal funds to Cornell and $ 790 million to Northwestern due to investigations on alleged civil rights violations.
ABC News Selina Wang contributed to this report.
