The US Department of Education on Monday froze more than $2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University, just hours after the school rejected President Donald Trump’s demands for sweeping changes to its diversity policies and campus governance.
Harvard issued a firm refusal to comply with a series of demands from the Trump administration, which it argued would effectively cede control of the private institution to a conservative government intent on reshaping higher education. The administration responded swiftly, announcing a freeze of $2.3 billion in federal funding, escalating an already high-stakes clash over academic freedom, campus speech, and the role of government oversight in universities.
In a public letter, Harvard President Alan Garber called the demands a direct assault on the university’s independence and core values. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Garber wrote.
Barack Obama backs Harvard amid crackdown
Meanwhile, former US President Barack Obama has voiced his support for Harvard in the matter, saying the university has set an example for other higher education institutions by rejecting what he called a Trump-led “unlawful” attempt to stifle academic freedom.
“Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions — rejecting an unlawful and heavy-handed attempt to suppress academic freedom, while taking meaningful steps to ensure all students at Harvard can thrive in an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate, and mutual respect. Let’s hope other institutions follow suit,” Obama post on X read.
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and… https://t.co/gAu9UUqgjF
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2025
Crackdown targets antisemitism allegations
The conflict follows months of federal scrutiny after pro-Palestinian student protests erupted on campuses nationwide in response to the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict. The Trump administration has accused several universities, including Harvard, of failing to address antisemitism. A Department of Education task force on Monday alleged that Harvard exhibits a “troubling entitlement mindset” and is failing to uphold civil rights obligations tied to federal funding.
The administration has frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to multiple universities and begun deportation proceedings against some foreign students involved in protests. Visas for hundreds more have reportedly been canceled.
Sweeping demands on admissions, hiring, and speech
Among the federal demands were requirements for Harvard to hire and admit students solely based on merit, eliminate racial preferences, and audit faculty and students for “viewpoint diversity.” The university was also ordered to screen international applicants for alignment with “American values” and report any violations of conduct to immigration authorities.
Harvard, alongside Columbia University, whose federal funding has also been partially suspended, is now engaged in legal challenges against the administration’s actions. To offset the potential financial blow, Harvard is reportedly seeking to borrow $750 million from private markets.
Garber vowed to protect the university’s constitutional rights, warning, “We will not surrender our independence.”
(With agency inputs)
