Trump administration takes away $450 million from Harvard in escalating battle
US President Donald Trump’s administration has taken away $450 million in funding from Harvard University, a day after it denied allegations of antisemitism and liberalism.
“Eight federal agencies across the government are announcing the termination of approximately $450 million in grants to Harvard, which is in addition to the $2.2 billion that was terminated [previously],” the White House’s Joint Task Force to Combat antisemitism said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement has called the Ivy League university “a breeding ground for virtue signaling and discrimination.”
It has been signed by the attorneys for the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition to losing a significant portion of its funding, Harvard has been facing multiple investigations from the Trump administration.
The Trump administration has accused the school of potential civil rights violations in its handling of pro-Palestinian protests last year.
Harvard President Alan Garber has disputed the government’s allegations constantly, and said Harvard is nonpartisan and has taken steps to root out antisemitism on campus.
He has insisted that Harvard complies with the law and called the federal sanctions an “unlawful attempt to control fundamental aspects of our university’s operations.”
Harvard is the largest university the Trump administration has targeted for alleged antisemitism and supporting pro-Palestine activities.
Trump has demanded that US universities comply with his administration’s demands including issues regarding diversity initiatives, financial controls and international student admissions.
Columbia University and Ohio State University are two other major academic institutions that have lost federal funding.
