President Donald Trump has stripped Harvard University of $2.2 billion in federal funding for refusing to adhere to the administration’s demands that higher education institutions take concrete steps to eliminate antisemitism as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives. Harvard President Alan Garber chose not to comply and is pushing back, setting the stage for what could be a contentious legal battle.
The Trump administration’s Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced a comprehensive review of Harvard University’s $9 billion in federal grants and contracts in late March. That was followed by guidance for what steps the school must implement to maintain this federal funding.
The administration explained in this guidance that Harvard “has fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment.” Anti-Israel protesters stormed Harvard’s campus last year and formed a controversial 20-day encampment that resulted in the university’s previous president resigning.
The administration demanded in the guidance that Harvard review departments “that fuel antisemitic harassment,” ban masks used to conceal identities, adopt a “merit-based admissions process,” and end DEI programs.
Garber released a statement Monday claiming that the Trump administration provided an expanded list of demands a few days prior. He said that the administration’s guidance threatens the university’s “values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge.” Garber explained that he would not comply as a result.
Mike Benz, who serves as president of the Foundation for Freedom Online, responded to Garber explaining that Harvard is taking federal funding despite being a private university. “Okay right but you’re taking $9 billion from that government. If you want to be a private university, be private, and stop taking our money,” Benz wrote on X.
The Trump administration made the decision to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding from Harvard for not complying. Trump suggested that Harvard should also lose its status as a tax-exempt entity for refusing to take basic measures to combat antisemitism and other discriminatory practices on campus.
“Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” he posted on Truth Social. “Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration is only asking Harvard not to break federal law and that the president’s demands need to be taken seriously. She reiterated Trump’s idea of possibly eliminating the university’s tax-exempt status.
“I think the president is also begging a good question,” Leavitt said at a press briefing. “More than $2 billion out the door to Harvard when they have a more than $50 billion endowment. Why are the American taxpayers subsidizing a university that has billions of dollars in the bank already? And we certainly should not be funding a place where such grave antisemitism exists.”
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
“values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge.” Ok. Then as a private institution Harvard should not get any tax dollars. Go stand on your own 2 feet and stay out of my wallet.
$2.2 BILLION of our taxes regularly given to a college with $50 BILLION in Endowments? Why was this EVER allowed? And I don’t wanna hear about how it’s money for research or ANYTHING ELSE. My gosh think of what we should be saving! USE THEIR OWN DAMNED MONEY. The interest alone should cover everything they could possibly dream up to do!
It is not the ability that gets the student in but the color of the skin and other criteria , it is not the education that they are receiving but indoctrination, it hardly can be called University just as High school is not high school anymore graduating people on the 7th grade level.
If one says today that he is going to Harvard, it is no longer admirable. Harvard had lost its luster and prestige. Graduating from Harvard nowadays doesn’t mean a thing anymore. And, why is Harvard being funded by the government? It is a private and not a public university.
To think in 72 years of my life I had NO IDEA this kind of funding, INEXCUSABLE WASTE to already obscenely rich institutions was going on, year after year after year! And it took President Trump to let us know about this taxpayer OUTRAGE. I couldn’t afford to go to college back in the 70’s so I did without AND LOOK AT THIS! NEVER EVER GIVE ANY OF THESE PLACES ANOTHER DIME! NO MATTER WHAT!
Harvard is very selective about who becomes their students with their DEI mandate and charge an unbelievable amount for tuition. The Government has no business giving them any funding at this point, period!
“Dissemination of knowledge”??? What the hell does that look like? Anti-American, anti-Semitism, anti-women via trans garbage, anti-white via make believe racism…typical Democrat run institute full of left wing liberal morons who are hell bent to destroy this country…that’s the knowledge they disseminate…
DEI is tragically keeping American blacks mentally and emotionally on a psychological plantation of low expectations and high victimhood, The leaders of the Democrat Party are fine with this, because progressives and communists want the state to control everything. Hate, envy, and dysfunction are the building-blocks to creating a world order full of miserable sheep in human form.
Perhaps many universities with such large endowments are able to fund their own programs. Harvard with a $52 billion endowment can easily fund its own priorities and research. This $2.2 funding from the Federal government can help reduce the national debt. With many other universities being able to fund their own programs would result in more cost savings and could be applied to reducing the national debt and in helping reduce poverty.
If Harvard wants to retain its “private autonomy,” then why the hell should taxpayers give them any of our tax dollars at all? We are not obligated to fund any private organization. Let them do as they please without OUR money. If they need money, let them go to their private donors. AND why should they be tax-exempt? There is nothing charitable about that university. The 501(c)(3) exemption defines charitable in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion; ADVANCEMENT of education or science; erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.
Sorry, but I don’t see Harvard as helping the poor, distressed, or underprivileged. I fail to see where they are “advancing” education. It appears to me they are taking it back decades. They are not lessening the burdens of government or neighborhood tensions. They certainly aren’t eliminating prejudice and discrimination, or defending human and civil rights secured by law. They are not entitled to anything under the definition of 501(c)(3) and should be immediately stripped of their tax-exempt status. You must be fully compliant and cannot cherry-pick the criteria.
WE SHOULD NOT BE FUNDING A RICH UNIVERSITY THAT A VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED AT, OR AFFORD TO PAY THE TUITION IF THEY WERE ACCEPTED.
DO this to all Ivy League schools nationwide Yes
So, Harvard is saying it’s OK to harass Jewish students like we saw on TV yesterday…a student was totally encircled, and the crowd was yelling…Jew, go home and KILL the Jews! Disgusting! Those harassers should be expelled immediately!
If one looks at the Constitution Discrimination is unconstitutional and education is left to the states. Considering those 2 facts. Getting Federal money is not authorized because Harvard is Discriminating and because it is a private educational institution. It therefore is not entitled to any federal money.
You know what is waaayyyy less expensive than fighting with these colleges? CUT THEM ALL OFF, then if they continue to break federal law, take them to court. Easier than fighting with them. Take away their tax exempt status too, what private “business” has tax exempt status? Then all the other institutes of learning can blame Harvard and Columbia for ruining things for them all. Done!
I’m proud of President Trump, he is standing up for America! These Socialist Democrats, Politicians, judges, lawyers, universities must be stopped!! The universities have been brainwashing the young Americans for years! They are no good!
President Trump is a great American!!
The entire $9B needs to be clawed back and their tax-exempt status revoked. Period.
Once again, why we are we sending ANY university money? This needs to stop.
Harvard is going to get their ass handed to them. And they deserve it.
I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Benz, if you are a private university, stop taking our tax dollars and spend YOUR private money.
Harvard is obstructing the government of the US. And no tax money should go to this well endowed university with their 80K yearly tuition. Harvard teaches the overthrow of America. Enough said. All those on the left break the law and then start a lawsuit in a weaponized court where judges make new laws. They are working to set America to their will. They make America into a global communist nation. They can’t hurt Trump he is above all that. For they know he is the only one that can save our constitutional Republic. That is what they are fighting. The elite billionaires, our institution of higher learning, the MSM have been working at this since Obama. And they finally are so far that those on the left are supporting them to the death to destroy America. Go ahead Harvard and all you Ivy League schools. The MSM or should I say the propaganda outlet for the deep state. They still have their spies in various depts in Trumps cabinet. They will be found. Honesty and truth and love will prevail. Because goodness is on our side. The evil Satan will be destroyed.
Excellent article. Absolutely correct on too many facets to individually discuss here. Bottom line – either devote yourself to education or devote yourself to politics. If you choose politics, then take full responsibility for your funding. If you decide to go back to being an educational institution, then come back to the taxpayers and discuss some possible monetary support.
I firmly stand with the administration, President Trump. It is to be expected that our government stands together to protect the American Citizens and any who are here legally & lawful within our communities. The Harvard institution should accept entrance by merit,not DEI or be so irresponsible as to not keep the campus safe for EVERYONE attending, working there. It shouldn’t matter what religion, culture a person is,as long as they are acting respectful of all. Grow up and behave as adults.
Don’t Comply? Put you hand back in your pocket. Simple as that.
Typical liberal reaction. They’ll push and WH push back harder!!!
as a ‘ private dispenser of knowledge’, then it needs to run n private funds. they don’t teach concepts that most taxpayers want to pay for.
UCSB was bad even when I first attended in 1977. Its only gotten worse. When I returned in 1990 to “finish” my degree at age 30 I made a point of “educating as MANY young minds as I possibly could. Converted quite a few too. Hard to blame them when they only hear one side day after day. Not an excuse not to question things. Thank goodness Charlie Kirk is touring campuses!!
There are millions, no, billions of taxpayers dollars sent to this Niger site so it can do its best to indoctrinate its students into democrat if not socialist ideology!! How many other Americans had no idea we supported all of these colleges and universities?? They have extremely wealthy alumni who could support them !! I would withdraw my support if given an option!!!
SHUT EM DOWN!
Imagine if these bastions of progressivism paid their share of taxes. We’d probably see OUR tax burdens drop in a hurry! Tax ’em and defund ’em!
Considering the cost paid for tuition at colleges, why are they even subsidized? It seems a backhanded way of taxpayers paying for others to attend. Perhaps the professors and administration are over paid.
Agree completely!
Absolutely, take away federal funding and tax status, Harvard has turned into nothing but a left-wing Marxist training ground that hates America. Most of their leadership and faculty should be arrested for treason.
I haven’t send a letter yet. I did however send one to Van Hollen and Taylor Lorenz. Let your voices be heard.
Harvard professors want to die on the DEI hill. What is in the water they are drinking. Harvard has way too many bigots and fools. Thought they were elites. lol
Our first amendment FREEDOM OF SPEECH is being abused by the current generations in a way that was never intended by our Founding Fathers. Both sides are not protected , when one side is allowed to protest and stop any meeting to continue as planned. The lawyers are abusing this freedom by defending protesters that disrupt our society for their own agenda.
Harvard has 52 billion dollars in the bank because they use taxpayer dollars to forego spending their savings.
I agree that Harvard should be permitted to run their institution the way they want to in accordance with current laws. We have no right restricting them or forcing them to follow Trumps policies. However, I am not aware of any law that requires the government to give a private institution any money for anything. It is the choice of the federal government as to what it spends taxpayer money on. But we don’t want to shoot ourselves in the foot. Many of these schools do have some specific research projects that we may want to support. But they need to be specific as to their exact goals and justify what every dollar will be used for. They need to be held accountable, or the funding should be stopped immediately. There are many areas that need to be researched but there are other means of obtaining money than the federal government especially if there is profit to be made. Lets not forget, every dollar the government spends comes directly out of our paychecks.
President Trump is right on the money with Harvard. Know we see why the Democrats and deep state are fighting President Trump so much. It’s crooks like the ones running Harvard and and other organizations stealing our tax dollars for their own benefit. I say no more free ride for any of them
Can DOGE go after Harvard since they get Federal funds? How much would Harvard have to pay if their “tax exempt” status is revoked? Guessing a $50+ Billion endowment could fetch a bundle $ every year. The DOGE savings would be great, going from a government drain of $2+ billion to a tax paying business.
I’m glad I didn’t go to Harvard if you are an example of the typical graduate from that school. You don’t know how to use punctuation or when to capitalize.
Did you learn any math? What is 2+ 2?
I am no fan of the elitist Harvard administration.
However, it’s good to see a private college college stand up on its hind legs and defend its positions.
It may be a good idea to trim some of Harvard’s Federal funding but not the portion that funds medical research.
Let me preface my comment by saying I don’t condone discrimination, anti-Semitism or student protests that disrupt other students ability to attend classes. With that said, the Trump administration’s letter to Harvard goes way beyond DEI and even anti-Semitism. For example, it directs Harvard to “audit the student body, faculty, staff, and leadership for viewpoint diversity.” This sounds eerily similar to the Thought Police in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four. To take this Orwellian concept one step further, are we going to arrest students and faculty whose opinions don’t align with the Inner Party (Trump administration)?