Trump to Freeze $2.26 Billion in Harvard Funding

President Donald Trump yesterday suggested he could revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and classify it as a political entity after the university said it wouldn’t comply with requests to overhaul its policies and programs. Trump’s comments came a day after his administration said it would freeze $2.26B of Harvard’s multiyear funding, highlighting a broader conflict over academic independence and federal oversight.

On Monday, Harvard—America’s oldest and wealthiest university—became the first institution to openly reject a series of changes from the Trump administration, which claims such measures are necessary to combat antisemitism on campuses. The changes (see letter) include removing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, adopting merit-based admissions and hiring practices, and banning identity-covering masks during student protests. Harvard said the requests infringed upon its independence; read the school’s response here. 

The Trump administration has similarly pressured at least six other universities, including Columbia University, which conceded to a list of reforms last month. Harvard has the largest endowment in the nation at $53B—about 20% of which can be spent at the school’s discretion.