Harvard University refuses to meet a series of Trump administration demands, potentially risking billions in federal funds.
In a letter On Monday, the 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.
A person goes to Elliot House at Harvard University, on March 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Scott Eisen/Getty Images
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.
“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 letter arrives days after the members of the Faculty of the University of Harvard asked a federal judge to block the Trump administration attempt to reduce billions in funds, argue that the threat of a fund cut is an “existential” weapon in the head “for a university.”
In a lawsuit filed on Friday, two groups that represent the Faculty of Harvard University
“This case implies an unprecedented threat of the Trump Administration to retain almost nine billion dollars in federal funds to one of the main universities of our nation, unless it access to changes that fundamentally compromise the independence of the university and the rights of freedom of expression of its faculty and students,” the lawsuit alleged, asking for a judge that issues an emergency order that prohibits the Trump administration of making changes in the funds.
The American Association of University Professors and its chapter in Harvard argued that the Trump administration could not follow the specific procedure established by the Civil Rights Law to terminate the financing, instead threatening to rescind $ 255 million in funds, as well as almost $ 9 billion in subsidies of several years unless the school implements a series of policy changes.
“These radical but indeterminate demands are not remedies aimed at the causes of any determination of breach with the federal law. Instead, they seek to impose political views and political preferences of Harvard University advanced by the Trump administration and commit the university to punish disorderly discourse,” says demand.
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.
