Trump To Yank Another Billion Dollars In Harvard Funding In Latest Blow Over School’s Antisemitism, Admissions Defiance

President Trump is reportedly planning to strip Harvard University of another $1 billion in federal funding, building on his administration’s move last week to freeze $2.2 billion in grants over the school’s unwillingness to reform its policies on antisemitism and admissions practices.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the decision to escalate came after Harvard released a detailed letter outlining demands from the Trump administration—contents that White House officials had expected would remain confidential.

Originally, the administration had intended to show more flexibility toward Harvard compared to Columbia University. But after Harvard’s leadership disclosed the letter—which included stipulations such as federal supervision over admissions decisions, staff hiring, and ideological leanings among students and faculty—the White House reconsidered its approach.

Harvard president Alan Garber commented on the letter from Trump’s newly established Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, saying the administration’s conditions “make clear that the intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism in a cooperative and constructive manner,” according to the Journal.

Garber went on to say, “We have informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement.”

The Trump team had initially expected Harvard to comply in the same way Columbia did, when it quickly accepted federal conditions in an effort to reclaim $400 million in frozen aid. But Harvard’s public opposition and release of the letter significantly heightened tensions, resulting in the $2.26 billion freeze.

In addition to halting funding, the administration is reportedly considering targeting Harvard’s tax-exempt status and its capacity to admit foreign students—moves that could financially cripple the university.

Sources said Harvard originally approached the Trump administration in March, attempting to resolve the issue quietly. But as negotiations dragged on and the administration’s demands became more sweeping, university officials concluded the terms were far too invasive.

The April 11 letter was seen by the White House as a final ultimatum, sources said. Harvard officials noted the letter had no confidentiality markings, but members of the task force claimed they had conveyed their desire to keep the talks behind closed doors.

The public disclosure of the letter left many in the administration convinced that Harvard had no real intention of cooperating, the Journal reported.

Although the demands were made public one day earlier than originally scheduled, a spokesperson for the White House emphasized that the release was deliberate.

“Instead of grandstanding, Harvard should focus on rebuilding confidence among all students, particularly Jewish students,” the spokesman said. “The White House remains open to dialogue, but serious changes are needed at Harvard.”

Garber, in his statement, acknowledged that while a portion of the administration’s demands related to combating antisemitism, the bulk of the proposals amounted to “direct governmental regulation.”

{Matzav.com}