Trump Aims to Withdraw Another $1B in Harvard Funding Amid Antisemitism and Admissions Controversies – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
11:05 AM – Monday, April 21, 2025
Reports suggest that President Donald Trump is set to withdraw another billion dollars in funding from Harvard University, just a week after freezing $2.2 billion in federal grants due to the university’s refusal to revise policies concerning antisemitism and its admissions process.
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This latest action follows Harvard’s publication of a document detailing the Trump administration’s demands, which White House officials had expected to keep confidential, as indicated by the Wall Street Journal.
Initially, Trump officials planned a more lenient approach towards Harvard compared to Columbia University. However, they reassessed their stance after the university president made public the letter’s specifics, which included significant federal oversight over admissions and faculty hiring processes as well as ideological influences on students and staff, the report noted.
In a response to the letter from Trump’s new Task Force to Combat antisemitism, Harvard President Alan Garber indicated that the requests showed “the intention is not to collaborate with us on addressing antisemitism in a constructive and cooperative manner,” according to the Journal.
Garber emphasized, “No government – regardless of political affiliation – should dictate the curriculum, admissions policies, hiring practices, or the areas of study pursued by private universities,” asserting that the institution had already implemented extensive reforms to combat antisemitism.
“These objectives won’t be achieved through assertions of power, severed from legal constraints, to regulate teaching and learning at Harvard and dictate our operations,” he continued.
“The responsibility of addressing our deficiencies, fulfilling commitments, and embodying our values lies with our community.”
Harvard’s decision to disclose the Trump administration’s letter along with its commitment to legal action escalated tensions, leading to the suspension of $2.26 billion in funding by the Trump administration.
The administration has also threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and its capacity to enroll international students, which could inflict significant financial strain on the university.
In March, Harvard sought to avert confrontation by reaching out to the Trump administration; however, after a series of discussions, the university deemed the requirements far too restrictive.
Sources indicated that the letter sent on April 11th was perceived as the university’s final proposal. Harvard officials claimed the letter wasn’t labeled private, while members of the task force argued they had requested confidentiality for the discussions.
According to the Wall Street Journal, amidst escalating tensions, Trump officials surmised that Harvard had no intention of engaging in negotiations.
The demands were released prematurely, yet a White House spokesperson maintained that it was not an error.
“Rather than engaging in theatrics, Harvard should concentrate on rebuilding trust among all students, particularly those who identify as Jewish,” the spokesman stated. “The White House remains willing to engage in dialogue, but significant changes are requisite at Harvard.”
Garber noted that while some demands made by Trump addressed antisemitism, many would embody direct governmental oversight.
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