FEderal pressure at Harvard University enters a decisive new phase. On Monday, the Trump administration announced that it would block the country's oldest university from receiving any new federal research grant, which signed a sharp increase in its campaign to re -create higher education and exclude resistant institutions.
“Harvard should no longer seek grants from the federal government, because nothing will be issued,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a university letter. “Harvard will stop being a public -funded institution, and instead can work as a private funded fund, drawing on colossal endowment, and raising money from the large basis of wealthy alumni.”
Moving adds to the administration's mounted requests: Eliminate all differences, equity, and integration (DEI) programs, overhaul the leadership and rent of skills, and comply with new student disciplinary policies and teacher administration. Harvard fought, and filed a lawsuit against the administration in April.
“The university will not give up its freedom or avoid In a letter to federal officials. “Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be obtained by the federal government.”
But while Harvard is taking a hard line, it remains a more vague. Columbia University, whose college camps were particularly known for last year's news, was a similar threat to the cancellation of federal cancellation in March. The higher educational institution complies with the administration, resulting in the continuation of their funds.
Here's a timeline on how to increase the confrontation between Harvard and the Trump administration:
March 31: Providing Harvard Review
The departments of the human education, health and services, and the US General Services Administration announced On March 31, the federal contracts and grants issued to Harvard will be reviewed to ensure compliance with “civil rights responsibilities. The review includes an assessment of $ 255.6 million in contracts and over $ 8.7 billion in many years.
The review was launched as part of the administration's antisemitism task force, created following the scores of pro-Palestinian protests and camps that appeared on campuses in the spring 2024.
April 11: Letter released in Harvard
Federal officials sent a letter to Harvard on April 11 with many provisions the university needed to maintain a “financial relationship with the federal government.”
Officials gave the University until August 2025 to work on: Changing their leadership reforms to reduce the power held by students and uncertain teachers; securing rental skills based on merit irritation irrespective of the race of an individual or other identity category; Adopting the “difference -different perspective” in each department, field, and body of the student; and stop dei programs and offices.
Harvard was also asked to immediately change student discipline policies-including the adoption of a mask ban-and investigate all student violations of the sit-in and protests that took place on campus. Officials said the university should also comply with the US Department of Homeland Security, and share information as needed.
April 14: Harvard's response to the administration
Harvard rejected the demands, focusing that they were overstep legal border.
“Harvard remains open to the dialogue about what the university has done, and is planned to do, to improve the experience of each member of its community. But Harvard is not ready to agree with the demands that exceed the legal authority of this or any administration,” wrote the lawyers.
April 16: DHS has threatened to end Harvard's ability to enroll international students
The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced that the administration will cancel two grants worth more than $ 2.7 million in Harvard. He also warned that the university was at risk of losing the ability to enroll international students -forming 27.2% of the student's body for 2024-2025 school year.
April 21: Harvard filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration
The university has accused the administration, noting violations of the first amendment and is said to be incorrectly cutting the provision funding.
The university argued that the cancellation of the grant puts Harvard independence, and critical research at risk.
April 22: Harvard joined other colleges in joint letter against 'government interference'
The American Association of Colleges and Universities released a statement On April 22, addressing the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” they said that threatening higher US education The letter insisted on the belief that higher educational institutions have the right to control the school, student, and staff curriculum.
Harvard University president Alan Garber signed the letter, with 611 other leaders in higher education space.
May 2: Trump moves to withdraw Harvard tax status
President Trump has announced that he will save Harvard tax status. “This is what it should be,” the President wrote on Truth Social, his platform on social media.
A spokesman for Harvard said there was no “legal basis to save Harvard tax status,” in a time statement.
May 7: Harvard to lose an opportunity for new Federal Research Awards
Sec. McMahon informed Harvard that it was no longer worth it for new research grants, noting not compliance with federal law.
