A U.S. judge has invalidated President Donald Trump’s attempt to cut over $2 billion in funding to Harvard University, dismissing it as a political maneuver disguised as a stance against anti-Semitism and bias within the Ivy League school.
Harvard filed a lawsuit in April to recover the funds that had been frozen. The government justified the cuts, claiming Harvard hadn’t adequately safeguarded Jewish and Israeli students, especially during protests related to Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
The reduction in funding led Harvard to halt hiring and put major research projects, particularly in public health and medicine, on hold — setbacks experts warn could threaten lives across the U.S.
Judge Allison Burroughs of the Boston federal court stated that the funding freezes and termination notices violated the First Amendment, ruling to overturn them. She declared, “The Court vacates and sets aside the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters as violative of the First Amendment,” and confirmed that all such actions taken since April 14, 2025, are invalid.
While Harvard’s own court documents acknowledged a presence of anti-Semitism on campus, the judge pointed out that the administration’s funding cuts were largely unrelated to the problem.
“Harvard has admitted that anti-Semitism has been a concern recently and could have handled it better,” Burroughs wrote. “However, the evidence shows little connection between the research disruptions caused by the grants and the anti-Semitism issue.”
She further accused the Trump administration of using anti-Semitism as a distraction or pretext for a targeted, ideological attack on elite universities, suggesting the funding actions were part of a broader effort to undermine higher education institutions.
Both Harvard and the American Association of University Professors challenged the administration’s measures in court, and their cases were consolidated. Trump, aiming to move the case to the Court of Federal Claims, is seeking to change the jurisdiction from the Boston federal court near Harvard’s Cambridge campus.
The ongoing political conflict reflects Trump’s broader criticisms of top-tier universities, which he claims lack transparency and are dominated by liberal perspectives and anti-conservative biases. Harvard faces scrutiny not only over ideological issues but also over its ability to host international students, who contributed 27% of its enrollment during the 2024-2025 academic year and are considered a significant revenue source.
Harvard Business School campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, April 15, 2025. — Reuters
Trump administration cuts Harvard’s $3.2 billion in grants and contracts.
International students make up 27% of total enrollment.
Judge cites “irreparable harm” in ruling against U.S. government.
NEW YORK: A U.S. court has temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s latest attempt to prevent foreign students from enrolling at Harvard, intensifying the administration’s conflict with one of the globe’s most renowned universities.
A proclamation from the White House, issued late Wednesday, aimed to restrict most new international students from entering the U.S. and threatened existing foreign enrollees with visa termination.
“Harvard’s actions have made it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,” stated the order.
Harvard swiftly updated a prior complaint filed in federal court, asserting, “This isn’t the first time the administration has tried to cut off Harvard from its international students.”
“This is part of a deliberate and escalating campaign of retaliation by the government in obvious retribution for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government’s attempts to control its governance, curriculum, and the ‘ideology’ of its faculty and student body.”
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled on Thursday that the government cannot enforce Trump’s proclamation.
She indicated that Harvard had demonstrated it faced “immediate and irreparable injury” without a temporary restraining order before all parties had a chance to be heard.
This same judge had previously blocked Trump’s earlier effort to prevent international students from enrolling at the prestigious institution.
‘Vendetta’
The administration has already withdrawn approximately $3.2 billion in federal grants and contracts from Harvard and vowed to exclude the institution from any future federal financial support.
This prestigious university has become a target in Trump’s campaign against top-tier colleges, particularly after it resisted his demands to grant oversight over its curriculum, faculty recruitment, and “viewpoint diversity.”
Trump has specifically called attention to international students at Harvard, who comprised 27% of total enrollment in the 2024-2025 academic year and contribute significantly to the university’s revenue.
In its legal filing, Harvard acknowledged that the President has the authority to restrict an entire group of foreigners if it’s considered to be in the public interest, but insisted that this case does not fall into that category.
The institution stated, “The President’s actions are not aimed at serving the ‘interests of the United States’ but instead reflect a governmental vendetta against Harvard.”
Since his return to office, Trump has zeroed in on elite U.S. universities which he and his supporters accuse of harboring anti-Semitism, liberal bias, and “woke” ideology.
On Wednesday, Trump’s education secretary even threatened to revoke Columbia University’s accreditation, targeting the Ivy League institution for allegedly failing to address harassment of Jewish students, putting its federal funding at risk.
In contrast to Harvard, several other leading universities, including Columbia, have already conceded to significant demands from the Trump administration.
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Harvard Business School campus viewed from a distance in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 15, 2025. — Reuters
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump issued a directive suspending the entry of foreign nationals wishing to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University, according to the White House. This move comes amid a growing conflict between the Trump administration and the prestigious Ivy League school.
The directive also instructs the State Department to “consider revoking” the academic or exchange visas of any current Harvard students who fall under the criteria specified in the proclamation.
Last month, the State Department ordered its embassies and consulates around the world to implement additional scrutiny of visa applicants aiming to travel to Harvard for any purpose, as detailed in an internal communication seen by Reuters.
Harvard contends that the Trump administration is retaliating against the institution for not yielding to its demands regarding the governance, curriculum, and political views of its faculty and students.
The two-page proclamation stated that Harvard has a “notable history of troubling foreign connections and radical viewpoints.”
The FBI has repeatedly cautioned that foreign adversaries exploit easy access to U.S. higher education to steal sensitive information, exploit research and development, and propagate misinformation, as noted in the proclamation.
A student at a Harvard graduation event wearing a cap inscribed with a message in support of international students, May 29, 2025. — Reuters
The proclamation claimed that there has been a “significant increase in crime” at Harvard in recent years, while the university allegedly failed to address certain types of misconduct among its community.
Furthermore, it accused Harvard of not adequately informing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about foreign students engaged in “illegal or dangerous activities.”
The proclamation criticized Harvard for its “extensive dealings with foreign adversaries,” citing that the institution received over $150 million from China alone. It further claimed that several individuals involved in antisemitic incidents on campus were identified as foreign students.
These new restrictions on student visas for Harvard represent another facet of the Trump administration’s campaign against the U.S.’s oldest and wealthiest university.
This action follows previous attempts to halt billions in grants and funding, challenge the university’s tax-exempt status, and launch probes into whether Harvard discriminated against white, Asian, male, or heterosexual employees and job applicants.
Trump has accused leading U.S. universities of fostering anti-American sentiment. Just last month, his administration attempted to revoke Harvard’s ability to accept foreign students, although this action was eventually blocked by a federal judge.
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Harvard University President Alan Garber acknowledges applause from students during the 374th Commencement exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. — Reuters
During the 374th Commencement ceremony, Harvard University President Alan Garber received a warm standing ovation as he welcomed graduates “from down the street, across the country, and around the globe,” prompting enthusiastic applause from the audience.
“All around the globe — just as it should be,” he added, as the applause echoed for nearly a minute, especially for the international students celebrating their achievements with family members despite challenges posed by the Trump administration concerning immigration policies.
One graduate expressed to AFP that the ovation reflected the community’s pride and support.
As the graduates celebrated, a federal judge decided to extend a ruling that prevents Trump’s administration from revoking Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, a significant win for the prestigious institution amid ongoing legal disputes with the government.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston stated her plans to issue a preliminary injunction just days after initially granting Harvard a temporary block against the administration’s actions.
Uzma Farheen, an Indian graduate with a Master’s in Public Health, described the day as one filled with “love for the global community.” She remarked, “We stand united to powerfully embody what Harvard represents — truth, integrity, and inclusion,” in her comments to AFP.
The Trump administration has launched multiple attacks on Harvard, including freezing billions in grants and other forms of funding, proposing to eliminate its tax-exempt status, and investigating potential discrimination against white, Asian, male, or straight employees.
President Garber acknowledged existing issues, such as anti-Semitism on campus, and reiterated the university’s commitment to ensuring all perspectives are welcomed and protected.
Garber has spearheaded the legal resistance within US higher education after the Trump administration targeted elite universities like Columbia, which made extensive concessions to regain $400 million in federal funding.
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Graduates celebrate during Harvard University’s 374th Commencement ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. — Reuters
CAMBRIDGE: A U.S. court has halted President Donald Trump’s efforts to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students.
The presiding judge stated that foreign students must be safeguarded while the legal dispute unfolds. This decision comes as Trump intensifies his criticism of elite universities over allegations of political bias.
Thousands of students donned their crimson-trimmed gowns to celebrate their graduation on Thursday.
Trump has focused his campaign against prestigious universities primarily on Harvard, threatening to withhold funding due to what he describes as liberal bias and anti-Semitic sentiments.
Judge Allison Burroughs indicated that she would soon issue a preliminary injunction to offer “some protection” to international students while both parties contest the legality of Trump’s actions.
“Our students are frightened, and we’re already witnessing transfers to other institutions,” remarked Harvard’s attorney, Ian Gershengorn, during the Boston hearing.
In a last-minute submission before the hearing, the Trump administration formally expressed its intent to revoke Harvard’s authorization to enroll foreign students, initiating the official process.
This notification granted Harvard a 30-day period to provide justification for why it shouldn’t be barred from admitting international students, who currently represent 27% of the university’s total enrollment.
Burroughs had earlier put a temporary stop to the policy and extended that suspension on Thursday while awaiting the new injunction. She expressed her intention to assess whether the actions of Trump’s officials were motivated by retaliation.
A law professor, present in the crowded courtroom, asserted that the Trump administration was exacerbating the distress experienced by students.
“Harvard is stuck in limbo. What options does an international student have?” questioned the Harvard Law School alumni, who chose to remain anonymous.
‘Pride and Acknowledgment’
Burroughs also noted that there existed “the looming possibility of further actions” from the government that could hinder Harvard from accommodating international students.
The Ivy League institution has persistently been a target of Trump’s scrutiny, as it publicly rebuffed his administration’s consistent demands regarding recruitment, curricula, and research priorities.
“Harvard is treating our country with immense disrespect, and their situation is only getting worse,” Trump stated on Wednesday.
Harvard’s President, Alan Garber, received enthusiastic applause when he acknowledged the presence of international students at the graduation ceremony with their families, declaring it to be “the way it should be.” He refrained from directly addressing the ongoing dispute with Trump.
Garber’s comments were met with a standing ovation, which one student described to AFP as a reflection of the community’s pride and approval.
In leading the legal resistance within U.S. academia, Garber has spoken out against Trump’s actions, which have also targeted several other prestigious institutions, including Columbia, which made significant concessions to recover $400 million in lost federal funding.
Garber has acknowledged that Harvard faces challenges related to anti-Semitism and the need to cultivate an environment where diverse viewpoints can be freely expressed.
Graduating student Uzma Farheen from India, who earned a Master of Public Health, stated that the occasion represented “a celebration of the global community.”
“We stand united in embodying what Harvard represents—truth, integrity, and inclusivity,” she expressed to AFP.
Before the ceremony—during which legendary actress Rita Moreno was awarded an honorary degree—members of the Harvard band, clad in crimson blazers, paraded through the narrow streets of Cambridge.
Hundreds of students convened in front of a large stage to listen to speeches—including one delivered entirely in Latin—on a grassy area that was closed off to the public for security reasons.
Many attendees from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government waved inflatable globes to symbolize the school’s international character.
“The past two months have been incredibly challenging. I felt very exposed,” shared 36-year-old Lorena Mejia, a Colombian graduate with a Master in Public Administration, proudly wearing robes that indicated her nationality.
A student strolls through the Allston campus of Harvard University in Allston, Massachusetts, US, on May 23, 2025. (Reuters)
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WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is contemplating reallocating $3 billion in federal research grants from Harvard University to trade schools.
His remarks on Truth Social came just days after his administration attempted to prevent the prestigious Ivy League institution from enrolling international students, part of a remarkable initiative to exert greater government influence over U.S. academic institutions.
The Republican president has recently frozen approximately $3 billion in federal funding intended for Harvard, criticizing the university for hiring Democrats and what he calls "Radical Left thinkers" as faculty. Harvard, a private institution, has filed a lawsuit to reinstate the funding, claiming the cuts infringe on its rights to free speech and are therefore unconstitutional.
Much of the grant funding was designated by Congress for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which allocates the money for biomedical research after a rigorous application process conducted by researchers—work that isn’t typically performed at trade schools.
It remains uncertain whether Trump was referencing the funds that have already been frozen by his administration. Harvard has indicated that it received notifications in May stating that nearly all of its federal grants were revoked via letters from various agencies, including the NIH, the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense.
These letters cited that the grants were being suspended because they "no longer align with agency priorities."
Harvard did not provide comments on Monday regarding the situation. The White House also declined to specify which funds Trump intends to redirect or how they could be legally transferred to trade schools.
On Friday, a federal judge temporarily prevented the Trump administration from stripping Harvard of its ability to enroll international students. Harvard argued that this move was part of Trump’s larger strategy to punish the university for resisting his attempts to undermine its academic autonomy.
This judicial order offers temporary relief to thousands of international students, who would have faced the possibility of needing to shift institutions under a policy that Harvard described as a "clear violation" of the U.S. Constitution and other federal regulations.
The administration’s decision would have had an immediate and damaging effect on Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders, as nearly 6,800 international students are currently enrolled, making up 27% of the university’s total student population and contributing significantly to its tuition revenue.
This latest action is part of an escalating conflict between Harvard and the White House, where Trump is pushing for compliance among universities, legal firms, media outlets, and other institutions with his political agenda. Both Trump and his Republican allies have accused elite universities of exhibiting a left-leaning bias for years.
In recent weeks, the administration has suggested revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, raising taxes on its endowment, and launching an investigation to determine whether the institution has violated civil rights laws by allegedly discriminating against "white, Asian, male, or straight applicants" for jobs or training programs.
In response, Harvard has maintained that its hiring and admissions processes are in full compliance with the law.
Harvard University Faces Significant Policy Shift on Foreign Students
Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, December 12, 2023. — Reuters
Over 27% of Harvard’s student population consists of international students.
The announcement was made by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The university declined to follow federal rules regarding admissions.
NEW YORK: In a surprising turn of events, the administration of President Donald Trump has prohibited Harvard University from accepting international students.
This decision affects a significant portion of the student body and represents a serious confrontation between Trump’s administration and one of the nation’s most prestigious universities.
Trump has accused Harvard of failing to adhere to federal guidelines, citing an on-campus atmosphere he believes is unsafe for Jewish students and advantageous to radical ideologies.
The President expressed his frustration towards Harvard—an institution that has produced 162 Nobel Prize laureates—after it disregarded his request for oversight on its admissions and hiring practices, which he claims operate under anti-Semitic and excessively liberal ideologies.
“Effective immediately, Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is revoked,” wrote Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a letter to the Ivy League university. This program is crucial for allowing foreign students to study in the U.S.
Last month, Trump had warned that Harvard would lose its ability to enroll international students if it did not comply with government stipulations that would place the university under external political scrutiny.
“It is a privilege to enroll foreign students,” Noem reminded Harvard in her letter. “All institutions must adhere to Department of Homeland Security requirements, including reporting obligations related to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, to maintain this privilege.”
Due to Harvard’s refusal to comply with repeated requests for information, alongside claims of fostering an unsafe and hostile environment for Jewish students, as well as promoting pro-Hamas sentiments and adopting biased ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policies, the university has forfeited this privilege.
According to university statistics, over 27% of Harvard’s enrollment consisted of international students for the 2024-25 academic year. Harvard has yet to respond to inquiries for comment.
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Image Caption: A visitor strolls through Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on December 7, 2023. — Reuters
Key Points:
The Trump administration is urging Harvard to implement policy changes.
Harvard has rejected these demands and is suing over a $2.3 billion funding reduction.
Much of Harvard’s $53 billion endowment is earmarked for specific purposes.
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education notified Harvard University that it would be freezing billions in upcoming research grants and other forms of assistance until the prestigious institution agrees to several demands from the Trump administration, according to a senior official.
This action marks another step by the Trump administration, known for leveraging federal financial resources to compel organizations, including law firms and universities, to make substantial policy revisions or face significant cuts to federal funding.
In her correspondence with Harvard, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that the university must tackle issues related to antisemitism on campus, re-evaluate policies that take student race into account, and respond to grievances regarding the lack of conservative faculty members, which detracts from its pursuit of "academic excellence."
"This letter is to notify you that Harvard should cease seeking federal grants as they will no longer be accessible," McMahon declared.
In response, Harvard criticized the demands in McMahon’s letter, labeling them as an unprecedented and improper attempt to exert control over the university while simultaneously posing threats to vital research funding.
"Harvard will persist in its legal defense against unlawful governmental overreach aimed at suppressing research and innovation that contribute to the safety and security of Americans," stated a university representative.
The decision to suspend future funding represents a slight shift in strategy from the Trump administration, which previously faced legal scrutiny for attempting to freeze existing funds at top institutions.
Trump has particularly focused on Harvard regarding allegations of antisemitism stemming from pro-Palestinian protests, which he characterized as "antisemitic," amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Protesters, including some Jewish organizations, argue that the government conflates their critiques of the regional strife with antisemitism and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremist views.
Recently, the administration initiated a thorough review of nearly $9 billion in federal funding allocated to Harvard, mandated the university to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, and pressured it to impose stricter measures on protesters.
Harvard has rebuffed many of Trump’s demands, citing them as attacks on free speech and academic freedom. In retaliation, the institution has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after the suspension of approximately $2.3 billion in federal funds, while also vowing to confront discrimination on campus.
In its lawsuit, Harvard warned that the cuts to funding would have severe "real-life consequences for patients, students, faculty, staff, and researchers," potentially jeopardizing essential medical and scientific advancements.
Despite having a $53 billion endowment—the largest of any university in the U.S.—most of these funds are earmarked for specific uses such as scholarships and financial aid.
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Students stroll across the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, on April 15, 2025. —Reuters
NYT reports that the April 11 demands may have been issued prematurely.
Harvard claims the Trump administration is intensifying its demands.
Numerous demands were rejected by Harvard; government froze certain funding.
WASHINGTON: On Saturday, Harvard University stated that the Trump administration is “intensifying” its extensive demands made of the institution, even after a report suggested that officials sent a letter outlining these demands without formal approval.
According to a report by the New York Times on Friday, the letter from government attorneys, which arrived at Harvard on April 11, was dispatched before it received the necessary clearance from high-level officials within President Donald Trump’s administration.
Just three days after this letter’s arrival, Harvard rejected various demands which it claimed would effectively surrender control over hiring, admissions, and educational instruction to the government.
Following this rejection, the Trump administration halted $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard, threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status and restrict its ability to enroll international students. They also requested extensive information regarding the university’s foreign affiliations, including details about students and faculty.
“Even if the administration now seeks to retract its list of astonishingly intrusive demands, it seems to have doubled down on those requests through recent actions,” a Harvard spokesperson commented. “Actions speak louder than words.”
Since taking office in January, Trump has targeted elite U.S. universities, claiming they mishandled the pro-Palestinian protests of the previous year and fostered antisemitism on campus. Detractors, including various Jewish organizations, argue that their critiques of Israeli policies are wrongly conflated with antisemitism.
Columbia University was an early target, but in recent weeks, Harvard has become the focus of the administration, which is attempting to oversee its student body, faculty, and curriculum in what appears to be an effort to address perceived liberal bias.
The New York Times reported that while the contents of the April 11 letter were confirmed as genuine, there were conflicting accounts within the Trump administration concerning its premature issuance.
Some White House officials believed the letter was sent too soon, while others thought it was intended for circulation among governmental staff first.
The White House has not offered an immediate response.
On April 3, the administration had already provided a list of demands that Harvard needed to fulfill to maintain federal funding. These earlier demands included prohibitions on mask-wearing, the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and an increase in cooperation with law enforcement.
The April 11 letter, signed by officials from the Education Department, Health Department, and General Services Administration, expanded on this list. It instructed Harvard to cease recognition of certain pro-Palestinian groups and urged the university to report foreign students who violate institution policies, among other items.
Harvard believed it could avoid confrontation with the Trump administration because both parties were in discussions. However, the letter led Harvard to conclude that a deal would not be attainable.
Harvard expressed no doubt regarding the authenticity of the letter and criticized its demands as “outrageous in their overreach.”
Students walking on Harvard University’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 15, 2025.
Human rights advocates express concerns over free speech.
Harvard dismisses demands from the Trump administration this week.
The U.S. government has frozen over $2 billion in funding for Harvard.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Harvard University may lose its capability to enroll international students if it fails to comply with the Trump administration’s requests for information regarding specific visa holders. This marks the latest increase in tensions between the government and the prestigious institution.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Wednesday that her department is terminating two DHS grants that total over $2.7 million to Harvard.
Noem conveyed in her letter to Harvard that the university must provide documentation regarding what she termed the “illegal and violent activities” of foreign student visa holders by April 30.
“If Harvard cannot confirm it is fully compliant with its reporting requirements, the university will lose its ability to enroll foreign students,” Noem said in a public statement.
A representative for Harvard acknowledged receipt of Noem’s letter concerning both the grant cancellations and the scrutiny of foreign student visas.
The spokesperson emphasized that Harvard is firm in its stance to “maintain its independence and uphold its constitutional rights” while also indicating its intention to comply with applicable laws.
During Trump’s administration, universities have faced threats of funding cuts due to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on their campuses.
The administration is actively attempting to deport some foreign demonstrators and has revoked numerous visas nationwide.
“With an endowment of $53.2 billion, Harvard has enough resources to support its own turmoil – DHS will not intervene,” Noem stated, also alleging the existence of an “anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology” at the institution.
Harvard has previously asserted its commitment to combatting antisemitism and other forms of prejudice on its campus while respecting academic freedoms and the right to protest.
Trump’s Enforcement Campaign
Last month, the Trump administration announced it was assessing $9 billion in federal contracts and grants to Harvard, subsequently calling for restrictions including a mask mandate and elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as conditions for the university’s continued federal funding.
On Monday, Harvard rejected multiple demands that it claimed would relinquish university control to the government. In response, the Trump administration declared a freeze on $2.3 billion in funding.
Trump also threatened on Tuesday to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Reports from CNN indicated that plans were in motion within the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to withdraw this status, with a final decision anticipated soon.
Harvard argued that there is no legal basis to revoke its tax-exempt status, claiming such a move would be unprecedented and would negatively impact financial aid for students, as well as disrupt essential medical research programs.
Human rights advocates have voiced concerns regarding free speech and academic freedoms in light of the government’s aggressive stance.
The Trump administration has also suspended or canceled funding for other universities, including Columbia, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, and Northwestern, citing similar issues.
It has threatened to withhold funding due to cultural conflicts surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and policies regarding transgender issues.
Protesters gather on Cambridge Common during a demonstration organized by the City of Cambridge urging Harvard’s leadership to resist federal government interference at the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 12, 2025. —Reuters
Harvard claims federal demands infringe upon academic freedom.
Some Harvard faculty members have already filed lawsuits against the Trump administration.
The federal government has suspended funding for several universities.
On Monday, Harvard University firmly rejected multiple demands from the Trump administration, arguing that these requests would grant the government undue influence over the institution, which they believe is being misrepresented as excessively liberal.
Shortly after Harvard issued its statement, the Trump administration announced a suspension of $2.3 billion in federal funding allocated to the university.
This funding freeze follows the administration’s prior announcement that it was examining $9 billion in federal contracts and grants awarded to Harvard, part of a broader initiative targeting what it alleges is rising antisemitism on college campuses, particularly during pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the past year and a half.
A task force from the Department of Education, aimed at addressing antisemitism, accused Harvard, the nation’s oldest university, of fostering a “problematic entitlement culture” that is prevalent in elite universities, suggesting they do not view federal investment as a responsibility that includes upholding civil rights laws.
This exchange intensifies an ongoing confrontation between the Trump administration and some of the wealthiest academic institutions, raising critical questions about freedom of speech and academic independence.
The administration has withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid to various universities, insisting that these institutions must amend their policies while accusing them of not adequately combating antisemitism on their campuses.
Deportation actions have begun against some foreign students detained who participated in pro-Palestinian protests, while the visas of many others have been revoked.
In a public letter on Monday, Harvard’s President Alan Garber asserted that the demands from the Department of Education would allow the federal government to “control the Harvard community” and jeopardize its “core values as a private institution dedicated to knowledge creation, dissemination, and pursuit.”
“No government—regardless of its political party—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they admit or hire, and which academic inquiries they can undertake,” Garber stated.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged the need to address allegations of antisemitism, stating, “While we stand firm in defense of Harvard, we will persist in fostering a robust culture of open inquiry on our campus, equipping our community with the necessary tools and skills to engage constructively, and expanding our intellectual and viewpoint diversity.”
Concerns about campus antisemitism resurfaced prior to Trump’s second term, following pro-Palestinian protests at multiple universities last year.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields remarked on Monday that Trump is committed to “making higher education great again” by eliminating unchecked antisemitism and ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not support racial discrimination or violence.
In a letter released last Friday, the Department of Education criticized Harvard for “not meeting the intellectual and civil rights standards that justify federal investment.”
The department’s letter demanded that Harvard diminish the influence of faculty, staff, and students who prioritize activism over scholarship, and have an external panel review each department to ensure “viewpoint diversity.”
By August, Harvard must ensure that faculty hiring and student admissions are merit-based, ceasing any preferences based on race, color, or national origin. The university is also required to screen international students to prevent the admission of those who oppose American values and to report any breaches of conduct to federal immigration authorities.
Last week, a group of Harvard professors filed a lawsuit to halt the Trump administration’s review of the nearly $9 billion in federal contracts and grants received by the university.
Reports indicate that the Trump administration may also seek to compel Columbia University, another Ivy League institution, into a consent decree binding it to observe federal guidelines regarding antisemitism. Similar to Harvard, some Columbia professors have taken legal action in response. The government has already suspended $400 million in funding and grants for Columbia.
President Garber emphasized that the federal government’s request for Harvard to “audit” the perspectives of students, faculty, and staff to identify leftist thinkers opposed to the Trump administration represents a clear violation of the university’s First Amendment rights.
“The university will not compromise its independence or surrender its constitutional rights,” Garber asserted.
He reiterated that while Harvard is taking measures to tackle antisemitism on campus, “these objectives cannot be realized through the exertion of power devoid of legal basis to control teaching and learning at Harvard and dictate our operational approach.”
Garber concluded, “Freedom of thought and inquiry, along with the government’s long-standing commitment to respect and uphold it, have allowed universities to contribute significantly to a free society and improve the lives of people globally.”
In January, Harvard agreed to enhance protections for Jewish students as part of a settlement addressing two lawsuits claiming that the university had become a center for antisemitism.
To mitigate any financial strain resulting from potential cuts to federal funding, Harvard is considering borrowing $750 million from financial markets.
A view of Harvard University campus on John F. Kennedy Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, captured on December 7, 2023. — Reuters
Harvard University has announced that starting in the 2025-26 academic year, students from families earning $200,000 or less annually will be eligible for free tuition.
This policy aims to make a Harvard education accessible to a broader range of students.
Harvard President Alan Garber stated that the university’s objective is to ensure that all admitted students can afford to attend, regardless of their financial background. He emphasized that diversity in student backgrounds enhances the educational experience and personal growth of all students.
Currently, the cost of attending Harvard is quite high, with tuition for the 2024-25 academic year set at $56,550. Adding in expenses for housing, meals, and health insurance, the total annual cost can exceed $80,000. This new initiative will help reduce expenses for many families.
For families earning under $100,000, support will be even more significant. Harvard will cover tuition, housing, meals, travel, and health insurance for these students. Additionally, they will receive supplemental grants to assist with other costs during their first and third years.
To assist students from lower-income families, Harvard boasts an endowment exceeding $53 billion. Previously, only families earning below $85,000 annually qualified for free tuition. This policy expansion means that more students will now have access to the university’s financial aid system.
Other universities are following suit by increasing their financial aid offerings. Institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, MIT, and Dartmouth have implemented similar changes.
Harvard has long been committed to enhancing the affordability of education. In 2007, the university stopped offering student loans and switched to providing grants that do not require repayment. Despite these efforts, a significant number of Harvard students come from wealthy families; statistics reveal that nearly 40% hail from the top 5% of earners, while less than 5% are from the lowest 20%.
This new initiative is a significant stride toward making Harvard more inclusive. It will ease the financial burden for middle-class families seeking a prestigious education for their children.
This milestone, crucial in tackling antibiotic resistance, presents hopeful drug options following the examination of millions of compounds.
Researchers, led by James Collins at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, have achieved a significant breakthrough in antibiotic discovery by harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI). This groundbreaking stride forward marks a pivotal moment in the field.
AI-Driven Antibiotic Discovery
Utilizing deep learning algorithms, the research team conducted an extensive screening of millions of compounds, uncovering a selection of 283 potential compounds. These substances showcased remarkable effectiveness against the notoriously resilient methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci, both recognized as highly challenging pathogens to combat.
Explainable AI and Unprecedented Impact
In a remarkable development, the AI model used in this study is “explainable,” allowing for a deeper understanding of the underlying biochemistry that guides its decision-making process. This characteristic significantly improves transparency in the selection of antibiotic candidates.
Addressing Global Health Crisis
The context of this breakthrough is the growing concern over antibiotic resistance, which caused around 1.27 million deaths in 2019 and contributed to nearly five million more cases. With the COVID-19 pandemic worsening this issue and a prolonged absence of new antibiotic classes, this discovery shines as a beacon of hope.
Promise and Further Analysis
The newly discovered compounds demonstrate notably low toxicity against human cells, positioning them as promising candidates for drug development. In collaboration with Phare Bio, a nonprofit associated with the Antibiotics-AI Project, researchers aim to conduct a detailed analysis of these compounds’ chemical properties and their potential.
AI’s Accelerated Impact
This breakthrough highlights the emerging domain of AI-driven antibiotic discovery and design, significantly expediting the process of sorting through thousands of compounds and speeding up drug discovery timelines.
Road to Clinical Application
Despite this significant progress, the new antibiotic candidates require extensive refinement and testing before clinical deployment. Essential steps such as systematic toxicity studies and pre-IND assessments are crucial before they can be considered for clinical use.
In summary, the groundbreaking discovery of a new antibiotic class through AI represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight against antibiotic resistance. It demonstrates the immense potential of cutting-edge technology to drive advancements aimed at protecting global health.
President of Harvard University Larry Bacow and Adele, his wife, appeared positive for COVID-19 which he confirmed on Tuesday through a university letter.
