On Monday, the United States federal government declared its intention to freeze over $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts for Harvard University. This decision comes in response to Harvard’s refusal to curtail activism on campus, a key demand of the Trump administration. On the same day, Harvard declined to meet multiple demands from the Trump administration, leading to the administration’s choice to halt funding.

This development follows a letter from Harvard President Alan Garber to the university community, stating, “The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.” He emphasized that no government, regardless of political party, should determine what private universities teach, whom they admit and hire, and what areas of study they pursue.

In a letter released on Friday, the US Department of Education argued that Harvard had not met the intellectual and civil rights standards that justify federal funding. The Department urged Harvard to limit the influence of those in the faculty, staff, and student body who are “more committed to activism than scholarship.” The consequences of this decision remain to be seen.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/harvard-trump-administration-freezes-2-2-billion-in-grants/a-72245511?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf