The Trump administration issued a new ultimatum to Harvard University on Monday, escalating their feud over federal funding and oversight of academic affairs at the Ivy League university in Cambridge. Education Secretary Linda McMahon notified Harvard president Alan Garber that the university will no longer be eligible for new research grants until it complies with a series of demands from the administration. These demands include ending diversity, education, and inclusion programs, and curtailing campus protests.
The ban applies to federal research grants and does not affect federal financial aid that helps students cover college tuition and fees, McMahon’s office clarified during a press call. The letter marks a significant escalation in Trump’s ongoing conflict with the university. Harvard recently filed a lawsuit after the administration froze $2.2 billion in federal research funding.
In her letter, McMahon accused Harvard of “disastrous mismanagement,” claiming it has driven the nation’s oldest and most prestigious university into chaos, thereby necessitating massive reforms. Harvard issued a statement condemning the administration’s latest demands. “Today’s letter makes new threats to illegally withhold funding for lifesaving research and innovation in retaliation against Harvard for filing its lawsuit on April 21,” a university spokesperson said in an email.
This development follows a pro-Palestinian encampment at Harvard last spring, where students demanded the university divest from companies involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Federal funding ultimatum escalates conflict
The encampment ended after negotiations between the university and protesters.
In the three-page letter, McMahon reiterated the administration’s demands. Until Harvard ends antisemitism and racial preferencing, returns to merit-based admissions and hiring, and eliminates programs that promote identity stereotypes, it will no longer be eligible for federal research grants. “Harvard will cease to be a publicly funded institution” and can instead utilize its “colossal endowment” and large base of wealthy alumni, the letter stated.
Garber has previously expressed that the university will not comply with government demands. “Harvard will continue to comply with the law, promote and encourage respect for viewpoint diversity, and combat antisemitism in our community,” the statement said. “Harvard will also continue to defend against illegal government overreach aimed at stifling research and innovation.”
The school’s lawsuit followed the federal government’s freeze on $2.2 billion in funding, after Harvard refused to overhaul its hiring, teaching, and admissions practices, and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Trump has since threatened to revoke the school’s tax-exempt status, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned that the university could lose its ability to admit foreign students. McMahon’s letter also criticized Penny Pritzker, senior fellow of the Harvard Corporation and a former Obama official, alleging she is running the institution chaotically. Billionaire hedge fund investor Bill Ackman, an alumnus and vocal critic, called for Pritzker’s removal on Monday, citing her leadership as detrimental to Harvard’s financial position.
To become eligible for new grants, Harvard would need to enter negotiations with the federal government and demonstrate compliance with the administration’s demands.
