Trump Administration Moves To Cancel Federal Contracts Worth $100 Million With Harvard University
The Trump administration is moving to cancel federal contracts with Harvard, worth ~$100M, citing alleged antisemitism and discrimination. Agencies must review and terminate non-critical contracts.
The Donald Trump administration has escalated its confrontation with Harvard University by initiating steps to cancel federal contracts worth approximately $100 million.
A letter reviewed by Bloomberg News, sent by Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, directs all federal agencies to evaluate their existing contracts with Harvard University and its affiliates. Agencies have been instructed to terminate those contracts deemed non-critical and to shift to alternate vendors where necessary.
“The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is assisting all federal agencies in a review for termination or transition of their federal government contracts with Harvard University and affiliates,” the letter stated. “This review aligns with the Administration’s directive that all federal contracted services steadfastly uphold and advance agency strategic priorities.” Agencies have been asked to submit their reports on intended actions regarding each contract by June 6.
The move is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Trump administration against the Ivy League institution. A senior administration official, cited by AP, confirmed that approximately 30 contracts across nine federal agencies, including those involving scientific research and executive training, are under review. These contracts encompass a variety of services, such as executive training for Department of Homeland Security officials and research on health outcomes linked to energy drinks.
Bloomberg also reported that the administration has already suspended more than $2.6 billion in federal research funding to Harvard and barred the university from receiving new grants. This action comes amid allegations that Harvard has failed to curb antisemitism on campus. The administration has demanded sweeping reforms in the university’s governance, admissions, and faculty hiring, which officials have labelled as discriminatory. Moreover, there are calls to halt the enrolment of international students deemed “hostile to American values.”
Gruenbaum’s letter further alleged that Harvard “has continued to engage in race discrimination, including in its admissions process and in other areas of student life.” It cited an incident involving the Harvard Law Review, which awarded a $65,000 fellowship to a protester facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a Jewish student. The fellowship was reportedly approved by a faculty committee.
Donald Trump's Criticism Of Harvard And University's Pushback
US President Donald Trump has intensified criticism of Harvard, repeatedly branding it a hub of “liberalism and antisemitism,” and has suggested stripping the university of its tax-exempt status. On social media, Trump said: “I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land. What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!”
Harvard has pushed back against the administration’s actions. University President Alan Garber told NPR that while he has apologised for the university’s past handling of antisemitism, he questioned the rationale behind the government’s financial retaliation. “Shutting off that work does not help the country, even as it punishes Harvard, and it is hard to see the link between that and, say, antisemitism,” Garber said. He also added that he himself has faced prejudice at the institution.
The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, has accused Harvard of failing to provide adequate information on foreign students involved in protests. The university was given 72 hours to furnish detailed records, including disciplinary data and video footage from the past five years. Despite Harvard’s claims of compliance, the government deemed the response insufficient and attempted to revoke its ability to enrol foreign students. A federal court in Boston granted the university temporary relief.
Trump also claimed that the home countries of foreign students make no contributions to their education and suggested that some students may be radicalised. “We are still waiting for the Foreign Student Lists from Harvard so that we can determine, after a ridiculous expenditure of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, how many radicalised lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country,” he said.
In response to these developments, Japan’s Education Minister Toshiko Abe stated that the government is exploring measures to support affected Harvard students. The University of Tokyo is reportedly considering temporarily hosting some of these students.
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