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Trump Administration Targets Harvard Over Governance and Admissions Practices

The Trump administration has accused Ivy League institutions, particularly Harvard University, of “egregious illegal behavior” as tensions rise over the university’s governance and admissions policies.

In a dramatic move, the administration announced it would suspend more than $2 billion in federal funding to Harvard after the university declined to implement a series of requested reforms.

During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed queries about the federal financial support that top universities like Harvard receive. “This is a topic that President Trump frequently raises in discussions and negotiations with not only Harvard but also other Ivy League institutions,” she noted.

TRUMP ADMIN SLASHES OVER $2.2B IN FUNDING TO HARVARD AFTER SCHOOL DEFIES DEMANDS

Leavitt emphasized the administration’s commitment to tackling antisemitism on college campuses, citing the establishment of a federal task force aimed at addressing these concerns. “This task force includes representatives from various federal agencies who convene weekly to evaluate these issues. Many Americans are questioning why their tax dollars support universities that are allegedly indoctrinating students and permitting severe violations of law,” she stated.

In a contrary statement, Harvard University President Alan M. Garber expressed that the requests from the administration extended beyond measures to combat antisemitism, claiming they were unconstitutional. He stated that the directives included “direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard” and demanded the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

“The intent appears not to promote constructive dialogue regarding antisemitism but rather to impose unnecessary restrictions,” Garber conveyed. He also indicated that Harvard would not agree to the proposed terms communicated by the administration.

In February, the Department of Justice launched a Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, focused on addressing incidents targeting Jewish students across various campuses since October 2023.

HARVARD WON’T COMPLY WITH TRUMP ADMIN’S DEMANDS AMID THREATS OF CUTTING FEDERAL FUNDING

Following Harvard’s refusal to comply, the Trump administration confirmed the freezing of its funding, which encompasses grants and contracts to the university. The task force monitors a range of universities, including Columbia University, George Washington University, Harvard, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Northwestern University, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Southern California.

The task force issued a statement on Monday criticizing Harvard’s stance. “This reinforces a troubling entitlement mentality that is prevalent in elite universities—a belief that federal funding does not necessitate adherence to civil rights laws,” it declared. It condemned the harassment of Jewish students as “intolerable” and urged prestigious institutions to engage in genuine reforms if they intend to maintain taxpayer support.

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