Trump administration halts research grants for Harvard

The Trump Administration announced on Monday that it would cut all federal research grants to Harvard, stating that the university is not eligible for grants due to “violations” of laws.

Linda McMahon, the US Education Secretary, yesterday sent a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber conveying the government’s stance on halting the grant.

The letter stated that the university was not eligible for the federal government’s grant due to the “consistent violation of its own legal duties.”

The letter cited concerns about the university's handling of various issues, including affirmative action, campus protests, and the reinstatement of standardised testing requirements. It also raised questions about the university's governance and management practices.

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“In every way, Harvard has failed to abide by its legal obligations, its ethical and fiduciary duties, its transparency responsibilities, and any semblance of academic rigour,” CNN quoted McMahon’s letter, adding the university “has made a mockery of this country’s higher education system.”

Rejecting the administration’s claim Harvard stated that the order would “impose unprecedented and improper control” on the university and it would have negative consequences on the higher education.

“Harvard will continue to comply with the law, promote and encourage respect for viewpoint diversity, and combat antisemitism in our community,” said the spokesperson.

The administration made it clear that if Harvard doesn’t work to resolve the listed issues, it would not be funded in future. 

“Harvard will cease to be a publicly funded institution, and can instead operate as a privately-funded institution, drawing on its colossal endowment, and raising money from its large base of wealthy alumni,” the letter continues.

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“You have an approximately $53 billion head start, much of which was made possible by the fact that you are living within the walls of, and benefiting from, the prosperity secured by the United States of America and its free-market system you teach your students to despise.”

A senior administration official stated that the move will specifically target research grant funding, sparing federal Pell Grants and student loan funding for now.

The estimated annual impact is over $1 billion. This follows the Trump administration's prior freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year federal funding.

According to the official, the Trump administration was open to restoring funding to Harvard if the university negotiated with the government and demonstrated compliance with all federal laws.