Harvard University’s future federal funding is now highly uncertain as the Trump administration threatens to cut all resources, citing concluded investigations that the civil rights of Jewish students were violated due to alleged anti-Semitism. The official letter from the administration stated that Harvard was a “willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment.”
This development adds to Harvard’s existing financial woes with the federal government. The university had already lost over $2.6 billion in federal funding after rejecting President Trump’s earlier demands for significant reforms in campus hiring, admissions, and governance. The current threat underlines the administration’s unwavering determination to enforce its findings.
President Trump’s broader critique of Harvard has also encompassed its international student enrollment. He had previously suggested a cap of approximately 15% on foreign students, arguing that the university’s reported 31% international student body disadvantaged American applicants. This concern has been a recurring theme in the administration’s interactions with elite universities.
The dispute had previously escalated when the administration revoked Harvard’s certification to enroll international students, prompting a lawsuit from Harvard alleging unconstitutional retaliation. Despite these contentious moments, President Trump recently announced that negotiations with Harvard officials were proceeding positively, expressing optimism for a “mindbogglingly’ HISTORIC” settlement.
