Trump Administration Freezes Over $2 Billion in Federal Funds to Harvard After Rejected Demands

The Trump administration has announced it is suspending more than $2 billion (£1.5 billion) in federal funding to Harvard University, just hours after the Ivy League school refused to comply with a list of demands issued by the White House.

In a statement, the Department of Education accused Harvard of displaying a “troubling entitlement mindset,” which it said is common among the country’s most elite academic institutions.

The White House had presented a set of requirements last week, claiming they were intended to address rising antisemitism on campus. The proposed changes called for revisions to Harvard’s governance, faculty hiring practices, and admissions policies.

Harvard rejected the demands on Monday, asserting that the administration was attempting to “control” the university’s community and undermine its institutional independence.

Harvard Becomes First Major U.S. University to Reject Trump Administration's Demands

Harvard University has become the first major American university to openly defy the Trump administration’s push to overhaul campus policies, rejecting a series of sweeping federal demands that would have significantly altered its operations and granted the government substantial control over its internal affairs.

The White House’s demands, delivered in an updated and expanded list on Friday, came with a stark warning: comply or risk losing federal funding. In response, Harvard President Alan Garber issued a letter to the university community on Monday, making clear the institution’s refusal to submit.

“We have informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement,” Garber wrote. “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”

President Trump has previously accused top universities of failing to protect Jewish students, especially during nationwide campus protests over the war in Gaza and U.S. support for Israel last year. The administration’s proposed changes targeted areas such as governance, faculty hiring, and admissions, which Harvard says go far beyond efforts to combat antisemitism.

Garber emphasized that Harvard remains committed to addressing antisemitism, but criticized the administration for overstepping its authority. “Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard,” he stated.

The standoff marks a dramatic moment in the escalating tensions between elite universities and the federal government, raising critical questions about academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the limits of political influence on higher education.

Trump Administration Freezes $2.2 Billion in Harvard Funding Amid Antisemitism Policy Dispute

Shortly after Harvard President Alan Garber publicly rejected sweeping federal demands, the U.S. Department of Education announced the immediate suspension of $2.2 billion in grants and an additional $60 million in federal contracts to the university.

In a strongly worded statement, the department condemned what it called ongoing campus disruptions and the failure to protect Jewish students. “The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable,” the statement read. “It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.”

A letter from the White House on Friday accused Harvard of falling short of meeting the intellectual and civil rights standards required for federal funding. It laid out ten broad areas of proposed reform, including:

Reporting students deemed "hostile to American values" to the federal government

Mandating ideological diversity in every academic department

Hiring a government-approved external auditor to investigate departments allegedly fueling antisemitic behavior

Taking disciplinary action related to past campus protests

Terminating all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs

The administration’s move follows months of growing pressure on universities to address antisemitism and eliminate DEI initiatives. Tensions escalated after the 2023 congressional hearing in which then-Harvard president Claudine Gay was criticized for her response to questions about antisemitic speech. She later resigned amid backlash and plagiarism allegations.

In March, the administration began reviewing $256 million in active Harvard contracts and $8.7 billion in long-term grants. Professors at Harvard responded with a lawsuit, arguing the government’s actions violate free speech and academic freedom.

The White House had previously revoked $400 million in funding from Columbia University, citing similar failures to address antisemitism. Education Secretary Linda McMahon at the time stated: “Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding.”

This latest clash marks a historic standoff over academic autonomy, civil rights, and the role of federal oversight in higher education.

Columbia Complies with Federal Demands as Student Protesters Face Arrests

Columbia University has agreed to several of the Trump administration’s demands in response to its federal funding threats, a move that has sparked backlash from segments of the student body and faculty who view the compliance as a capitulation to political pressure.

The decision came amid rising tensions on college campuses nationwide, particularly around pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Earlier on Monday, a lawyer representing Mohsen Mahdawi, an organizer of such protests at Columbia, confirmed that he was arrested by immigration officials while attending a citizenship interview in Colchester, Vermont. Mahdawi, a green card holder, is expected to graduate next month.

His detention follows a series of similar incidents. Mahmoud Khalil of Columbia University and Rumeysa Ozturk of Tufts University, both active participants in campus protests against the war in Gaza, have also been detained in recent weeks.

These developments underscore growing concerns over the consequences student activists may face in the wake of federal crackdowns, especially as universities grapple with balancing free speech, campus safety, and compliance with government directives.