On Monday, Harvard University announced that it has declined to implement policy changes proposed by the Trump administration, which would have imposed “unprecedented” requirements on the prestigious institution, setting the stage for a confrontation between the administration and the nation’s most affluent university.
In a letter received by Harvard from the Trump administration on Friday, there were demands for the university to diminish the influence of students and faculty in its decision-making processes; report foreign students who violate conduct rules directly to federal authorities; and involve external parties to ensure “viewpoint diversity” across all academic departments, among other measures.
Alan Garber, Harvard’s president, stated in a university communication on Monday, “No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, who they may admit or employ, and which fields of study and inquiry they may pursue.”
In response to the administration’s letter, Harvard’s legal counsel remarked that the university “is not prepared to comply with demands that exceed the legal authority of this or any administration.”
In March, the Trump administration indicated it was reviewing approximately $256 million in federal contracts with Harvard, along with an extra $8.7 billion in what it termed “multiyear grant commitments.” Furthermore, the announcement implied that Harvard had not taken sufficient action to address antisemitism within its campus community. It remained unclear what specific actions the university could undertake to meet the Trump administration’s expectations.
This is an evolving story. Please check back for further updates.
