Trump clashes with Harvard over funding and policies

US President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status after the university rejected his administration's demands to change its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices to combat antisemitism. The White House had frozen over $2 billion in federal funding for Harvard, citing the university's alleged failure to protect Jewish students during protests against the war in Gaza. Harvard's president said the university would not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights under the First Amendment. Trump's threat could cost Harvard millions of dollars annually, and the university has a $53 billion endowment. The move is part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape top US universities by withholding federal funds, sparking concerns about academic freedom and freedom of speech.

The IRS is reportedly planning to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status after President Donald Trump suggested it, raising concerns about the use of presidential power over the tax code. While it's not unprecedented for a university to lose its tax-exempt status, it has never been done at the express wish of a president. Harvard could contest the finding and challenge it in court if its tax-exempt status is revoked. The university's tax-exempt status is based on its status as a nonprofit organization, and it must refrain from endorsing candidates or influencing legislation to maintain it. Trump's action is seen as a retaliation against Harvard's rejection of his demand to discontinue its diversity programs and provide access to its employment and admissions data.

President Donald Trump is relishing a confrontation with Harvard University and other elite schools, portraying them as bastions of left-wing activism and "woke" policies. The administration has made demands that Harvard change its policies, which the university has refused, citing its independence and constitutional rights. The standoff is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to challenge liberal institutions and shift the country to the right. The administration's demands include ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and cracking down on student protests. Critics argue that the administration's motives go beyond addressing antisemitism on campuses and are instead aimed at exerting control over what is taught in universities. Trump's actions have been supported by some Republicans, who distrust higher education institutions, but have been criticized by academics and Democrats, who see the administration's actions as an attack on academic freedom and the values of higher education.

President Trump is freezing federal funds for Harvard University and other institutions after they refused to comply with his demands on hiring, admissions, and curriculum. The practice of federal funding for universities began around World War II, and today individual colleges depend on billions of dollars that mainly go toward financial aid and research. Harvard alone receives $9 billion in federal funding, which supports various programs, including medical and scientific research. The funding freezes have caused work stoppages, cut contracts, and imperiled research, affecting hospitals affiliated with universities. While universities have their own endowment funds, much of that money comes with restrictions on how it can be used, making it difficult to compensate for lost federal funding. Harvard's refusal to comply with Trump's demands may mark an inflection point in his attack on US academia.

Harvard University decided to resist demands from the Trump administration to combat antisemitism, which it deemed a threat to its independence and mission. The administration's demands, outlined in a five-page letter, included banning masks, reducing faculty power, adopting "merit-based" admissions, and auditing university data. Harvard's president, Alan M. Garber, rejected the demands in an open letter, stating that "the university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights." The government retaliated by freezing over $2.2 billion in federal funding, with nearly $7 billion more at risk, and threatening Harvard's tax-exempt status. Harvard's leaders prioritized the university's reputation, independence, and legacy, betting that it could outlast the Trump administration's crusade.