The Trump administration, led by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, has announced that Harvard University will be stripped of its public funding for research. This decision marks a drastic escalation in the ongoing dispute between the administration and the prestigious university, which has been accused of failing to address the issue of anti-Semitism on campus.
McMahon, in a letter to Harvard, accused the university of making a “mockery” of higher education and suggested that it would no longer be eligible to receive federal grants. Instead, Harvard would have to rely on its own substantial endowment and contributions from its wealthy alumni. This unprecedented move comes after the Trump administration froze $2.3 billion in funding last month due to Harvard’s alleged failure to tackle anti-Semitism incidents.
The administration claims that Harvard refused to meet a series of demands that would have subjected the university to government oversight. These demands included external audits to ensure “viewpoint diversity” among faculty and students.
In her letter, McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, repeated conservative grievances against Harvard, including claims of lax academic standards and the admission of foreign students who allegedly exhibit violent behavior and disdain for the United States. McMahon has called for transparency and straightforward answers about these issues.
Harvard has vowed to fight the funding freeze in court, stating that McMahon’s latest demands have far-reaching implications for higher education. The university maintains that it will continue to uphold viewpoint diversity, combat anti-Semitism, and defend against government overreach that threatens research and innovation.
The issue of alleged anti-Semitism on college campuses gained traction during last year’s nationwide student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. Two separate Harvard task forces acknowledged the presence of both anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim sentiments on campus. In response, Harvard’s President Alan Garber emphasized the importance of mutual respect and safety for all members of the university community.
Trump and conservative leaders have long accused Harvard and other universities of promoting extreme left-wing views and quashing free debate.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/6/trump-administration-bars-harvard-from-future-research-grants?traffic_source=rss
