Trump Admin Hits Back at Harvard by Freezing $2.2 Billion in Funding
Breaking: The Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in funding for Harvard University after the school refused to comply with federal demands regarding campus policies and DEI programs.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Education for comment via email on Monday.
Why It Matters
The White House has intensified scrutiny of Ivy League schools over allegations of tolerating antisemitism during protests related to Israel's war with Hamas. This follows similar actions against Columbia University, which saw $400 million withheld before complying with administration demands.
"Harvard's statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities," said the federal Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.
Key Details
Harvard's legal team stated in a letter: "The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government."
The administration's demands included eliminating DEI programs and implementing stricter campus protest policies. Columbia University had previously complied with similar demands, including banning masks and hiring additional campus security.
