Harvard University has been barred from applying for new federal research grants, following a formal decision by the Trump administration citing unresolved concerns over campus governance, antisemitism and academic standards.
The move escalates a growing standoff between the federal government and one of the United States’ most prestigious educational institutions.
The decision, communicated in a letter by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, outlines a comprehensive freeze on research funding until the university complies with a list of administrative demands.
Harvard, which has launched legal action in response, argues that the federal government is unlawfully attempting to exert political control over its internal operations.
Federal Grants Halted Amid Accusations of Governance Failure
The Trump administration’s letter, addressed to Harvard President Dr Alan Garber, asserts that the university has “failed to abide by its legal obligations” and accuses it of fostering a campus environment lacking academic rigour and ideological diversity.
According to reports, the Department of Education has frozen $2.2 billion in existing funding and warned of broader implications for the nearly $9 billion in total federal research support previously awarded to Harvard.
The freeze applies specifically to new federal research grants but excludes student financial aid. According to a senior administration official cited in multiple reports, the university would need to demonstrate “responsible management” and enter negotiations to regain eligibility for future grants.
Among the issues raised are Harvard’s handling of alleged antisemitic incidents during pro-Palestinian campus protests, admissions policies criticised as racially biased, and a curriculum perceived by federal officials as ideologically one-sided.
Secretary McMahon’s letter, which also surfaced on social media, accuses Harvard of inviting “foreign students, who engage in violent behaviour” and criticises recent academic initiatives, including remedial mathematics courses.
The administration contends that these elements reflect a broader decline in standards and a failure to address “rampant antisemitism” on campus.
Harvard Responds With Legal Challenge and Defends Academic Independence
In response to the funding suspension, Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging that the administration’s actions represent unconstitutional overreach and violate statutory protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The university contends that the demands put forth by the Trump administration would impose “unprecedented and improper control” over academic governance and endanger scientific research.
Dr Garber, who is Jewish, acknowledged the seriousness of antisemitism concerns, stating in a university-wide message that Harvard is committed to addressing hate while protecting academic freedom.
“We will continue to fight hate with the urgency it demands,” he wrote. Harvard argues that the funding cuts could disrupt essential research in public health and medicine, with tangible effects on faculty, staff, and patients.
