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The Donald Trump administration has announced the suspension of all new federal research grants to Harvard University, CNN reports. This is an unprecedented move in the conflict over academic freedom, campus protests, and affirmative action policies, which amounts to more than $1 billion annually.
US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has sent Harvard President Alan Garber an official letter accusing the university of “systematic breaches of commitment”, including lack of transparency, violations of academic integrity, and ideological pressure.
In particular, the document mentions:
- Eliminating the SAT/ACT standardised tests (temporarily, until April 2024),
- actions during the campus protests,
- Diversity policy (affirmative action),
- “moving away from the free market values” that, according to the administration, have ensured the university’s success.
The administration has said that Harvard can continue to operate as a private institution, relying on its giant endowment ($53 billion), but without government support. At the same time, $2.2 billion in multi-year funding has already been frozen.
Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the government, stating that these actions are a dangerous assault on academic independence and that the university will not compromise its constitutional rights. Representatives of the university warned that such a precedent could undermine the foundation of higher education in the United States.
The administration does not rule out that funding may be resumed after Harvard’s policy is revised. But for now, the fight is just beginning.
