Trump Administration Freezes New Harvard Grants Until University Meets White House Demands
The Trump administration has frozen new federal grants to Harvard University, demanding sweeping policy changes on governance, speech, and diversity.
The Trump administration has announced that Harvard University will no longer receive new federal grants, accusing the school of failing to meet government standards on campus speech, antisemitism, and leadership practices. In a letter sent Monday, the U.S. Department of Education said the freeze will stay in place until Harvard makes major changes to how it operates, including revising its admissions policy and proving it supports a diversity of views on campus. Existing financial aid for students will not be affected.
In a press call, an Education Department official said Harvard will receive no new federal grants until it “demonstrates responsible management of the university” and satisfies federal demands on a range of subjects. The ban applies to federal research grants and not to federal financial aid that helps students cover college tuition and fees.
This move comes after the administration froze $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard and is now threatening to remove the university’s tax-exempt status. It marks a major escalation in former President Donald Trump’s push to reshape higher education, which he argues has become dominated by liberal ideology and hostile to conservative voices.
Harvard University has made a mockery of this country’s higher education system,” wrote Education Secretary Linda McMahon in the letter, accusing the school of allowing antisemitism, racial discrimination, and foreign students who “showed contempt for the U.S.” The administration’s demands include broad changes to Harvard’s governance, a full review of faculty and student ideology, and evidence that the school protects free speech and academic standards. The Education Department said the ban only applies to research grants—not student aid—and Harvard will have to negotiate its way back into eligibility.
Harvard has fired back. The university called the freeze illegal and filed a lawsuit last month, claiming the government is violating its First Amendment rights and overstepping its legal authority.
In a statement Monday, Harvard said: “Today, we received another letter from the administration doubling down on demands that would impose unprecedented and improper control over Harvard University and would have chilling implications for higher education… We will continue to defend against illegal government overreach aimed at stifling research and innovation that make Americans safer and more secure.”
President Alan Garber said the university recognizes “a kernel of truth” in some criticisms—like the need to better address antisemitism and promote free speech—but warned that the administration’s actions are threatening the independence of all U.S. universities.
Harvard President Alan Garber, speaking to alumni said, “We were faced with a recent demand from the federal government that, in the guise of combating antisemitism, raised new issues of control that frankly we did not anticipate, getting to the heart of governance. We felt that we had to take a stand,” Garber told alumni. “Let us not mistake the issue that we face right now. It is an assault on higher education,” he added.
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