The Trump administration freezes $2 billion in funding for Harvard University after the school rejects demands to address antisemitism and other government-mandated changes. A major confrontation over university autonomy and federal support.
 |
| Harvard University has had over $2 billion in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration after rejecting a list of demands aimed at addressing antisemitism on campus and altering the school’s internal policies. Image: Harvard |
Washington, D.C., USA – April 15, 2025:
The Trump administration has announced it is freezing over $2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University, following the institution’s rejection of a list of demands intended to address antisemitism on campus. The U.S. Department of Education swiftly moved to freeze $2.2 billion in grants and an additional $60 million in contracts, marking the latest development in a long-running dispute over university policies and federal oversight.
This decision follows a letter sent last week by the White House outlining a series of demands that it claimed were designed to combat antisemitism at Harvard. These demands included significant changes to Harvard’s governance, hiring practices, and admissions procedures. The university, however, rejected these demands on Monday, asserting that the government’s requests would amount to an unacceptable level of control over its operations and academic freedoms.
In response, Harvard President Alan Garber expressed firm opposition in a letter to the university community. He confirmed that Harvard would not accept the conditions outlined by the Trump administration, stressing that while the university was committed to fighting antisemitism, the majority of the proposed changes represented an overreach of governmental authority into the academic realm. Garber made it clear that Harvard would not sacrifice its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights in exchange for federal funding.
"This is the first major U.S. university to openly resist the Trump administration's pressure," Garber stated. "The majority of the demands were not solely focused on antisemitism but sought to govern the intellectual and administrative structure of the university."
The Trump administration's demands included requirements for Harvard to report students whose views are considered "hostile" to American values, ensuring that each academic department maintains "viewpoint diversity," and hiring an external government-approved auditor to investigate and regulate departments accused of fostering antisemitic harassment. In addition, the White House called for disciplinary actions regarding protests held on campus over the past two years, and a complete end to the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The federal freeze follows previous actions against other universities, including Columbia University, where the administration withdrew $400 million in funding last year over similar concerns about antisemitism. Columbia eventually agreed to some of the administration's terms, drawing criticism from students and faculty who saw it as a compromise of academic freedom.
Harvard’s legal team has filed a lawsuit in response, claiming that the government's actions are an unlawful infringement on academic freedom and freedom of speech. In its defense, the university has asserted that while it takes its responsibility to combat antisemitism seriously, it cannot allow the federal government to dictate its internal policies.
Since taking office, President Trump has repeatedly targeted universities he claims are failing to protect Jewish students and allow antisemitism to thrive. This most recent action against Harvard reflects the growing tensions between the government and higher education institutions over the role of federal funding and influence in shaping university policy.
As the standoff continues, the future of Harvard’s federal funding remains uncertain, and other universities are closely watching the outcome of this high-stakes confrontation.