The U.S. government has frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal grants and an additional $60 million in contracts earmarked for Harvard University. The decision follows the institution’s refusal to comply with a series of reforms mandated by the administration, including changes to admissions policies, hiring practices, and the funding of student organizations, according to The Associated Press.
Among the most controversial measures is a ban on mask-wearing on campus and a requirement that Harvard cease recognizing or funding student groups that promote activities deemed illegal, violent, or harassing—such as antisemitism.
Federal subsidies account for approximately 11% of Harvard’s annual revenue, which totals $6.4 billion, according to figures released by the university itself.
Harvard President Alan Garber responded in a letter addressed to the university community, calling the government’s demands a violation of First Amendment rights and an overreach of authority under Title VI, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded educational institutions.
Garber defended the independence of private universities, stating that they should not be subjected to government-imposed policies dictating what they can teach, whom they can admit or hire, or which research areas to prioritize. He added that Harvard has already undertaken significant steps to address antisemitism but rejected the notion that such actions should be government-directed.
“These goals will not be achieved through the imposition of powers, outside the law, to control teaching and learning at Harvard and dictate how we operate,” Garber wrote. He emphasized that it is the university community’s responsibility to determine the actions needed to uphold its values and commitments.
The White House has accused institutions like Harvard of failing to act decisively against antisemitism, especially amid protests linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict. A recent statement issued by Harvard was cited by the administration as evidence of a “disturbing endemic mindset” that it claims exists within elite universities—one that reflects a lack of accountability in upholding civil rights laws despite receiving public funding.
Harvard is not the only university under scrutiny. Columbia University has already lost $400 million in federal funding. Unlike Harvard, however, Columbia has pledged to implement sweeping reforms in an effort to restore government support. According to The Associated Press, federal funds have also been suspended for the universities of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton.
Harvard’s stance has drawn support from alumni and academic organizations. A group of former students sent a letter to the university’s leadership urging it to challenge the government’s demands in court, describing them as a threat to academic freedom and institutional self-governance.
Anurima Bhargava, one of the letter’s signatories, praised Harvard’s response: “Today, Harvard stood up for the integrity, values, and freedoms that underpin higher education,” she stated.
The controversy has also sparked protests over the weekend, both on campus and in the city of Cambridge. Additionally, the American Association of University Professors filed a lawsuit last Friday, arguing that the government failed to follow the procedures required under Title VI before enacting the funding cuts. The suit claims the administration’s demands do not effectively address the causes of any potential violations of federal law and instead aim to impose political preferences and punish dissenting viewpoints.
