WASHINGTON D.C. — In an escalation of its ongoing clash with elite universities, the Trump administration announced Monday that Harvard University will no longer receive federal grant funding, accusing the institution of failing to meet its legal and ethical obligations.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon delivered the directive in a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, stating unequivocally that “the university should no longer seek grants from the federal government, since none will be provided.”
The letter, later published online, signaled a turning point in the administration’s battle with academia—one that centers on alleged anti-Semitism, campus protests, and diversity policies.
The move follows the mid-April freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funds to Harvard, part of a broader review that now puts nearly $9 billion in federal support under scrutiny.
Harvard, which holds a $53.2 billion endowment—the largest of any U.S. university—has publicly challenged the administration’s efforts to impose federal oversight on its admissions, hiring practices, and campus speech policies.
“Harvard has failed to abide by its legal obligations, its ethical and fiduciary duties, its transparency responsibilities, and any semblance of academic rigor,” McMahon wrote, without citing specific incidents.
A former pro wrestling executive and now the face of Trump’s education policy, McMahon described the order as “marking the end of new grants for the university.”
The administration’s crackdown is framed as a response to what officials call rising anti-Semitism on college campuses.
Harvard and other institutions have faced intense scrutiny from federal agencies following campus protests tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Officials allege that university leadership has failed to discipline students accused of expressing support for Hamas—designated a terrorist group by the U.S.—and have even threatened to revoke visas and deport foreign students linked to such protests.
Critics, however, view the move as part of a broader assault on academic freedom.
Legal scholars and education advocates argue that the administration is using funding threats to force ideological conformity and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Trump’s allies have long argued that university campuses are hostile to conservative viewpoints and overly permissive of left-leaning activism.
The standoff has attracted national attention, with civil liberties groups warning that the federal actions could set a dangerous precedent.
Harvard, for its part, is fighting the funding freeze in court, maintaining that the administration’s demands infringe on institutional autonomy and First Amendment protections.
As the political temperature rises, other universities are watching closely. If upheld, the funding cutoff could embolden further federal interventions in higher education and redefine the relationship between academic institutions and the government.
