Harvard Regrets Going Against Trump

The Trump administration announced on Monday that it is pausing all new federal grant funding for Harvard University. The decision marks a major escalation in the president’s ongoing efforts to reshape higher education by using federal dollars as leverage.

Harvard has been engaged in a legal battle with the administration after it refused to meet a series of demands issued by federal officials. In response, the administration froze $2.2 billion in funding previously allocated to the university. President Trump also raised the possibility of stripping the school of its tax-exempt status, a move that could cost Harvard hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

In a letter sent to Harvard President Alan Garber, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the university should stop applying for federal grants because no new funds will be approved. She accused Harvard of “disastrous mismanagement,” and claimed the school has “made a mockery of this country’s higher education system.” McMahon further alleged violations of federal law, involvement in “ugly racism,” and ongoing “plagiarism scandals,” while stating the university would no longer be treated as a publicly funded institution.

A spokesperson for Harvard responded by email, saying the administration’s letter was part of a broader campaign to impose “unprecedented and improper control” over the university. The spokesperson said the threats to withhold funding were retaliatory, tied directly to Harvard’s decision to challenge the administration’s actions in court. They emphasized that Harvard would continue to comply with the law and resist what they described as illegal government overreach.

In the letter, McMahon suggested that if Harvard refused to adapt, it should rely on its massive endowment instead of taxpayer support. While elite universities like Harvard have sizable endowments, most of that money is restricted for specific uses and cannot easily be redirected to cover the loss of federal funds.

The conflict between the administration and Harvard reflects a broader political strategy by Trump to confront institutions he sees as hostile to his agenda, particularly within academia. By targeting funding and introducing legal challenges, the administration is attempting to force changes in university priorities, creating deep concern across the higher education landscape.