The Trump administration announced a” comprehensive review” of over$ 9 billion in federal funding for Harvard University on Monday.
The news follows a similar decision to withdraw illegal federal grants for Columbia University fair approximately$ 400 million after pro-Palestinian activists took over and occupied a library at Barnard College, which is affiliated with the school. Columbia and Harvard have been a center for protests following the Oct. 7 Hamas criminal problems in 2023 against Israel.
” Harvard has served as a symbol of the American dream for years — the zenith goal for individuals all over the world to work hard and earn entrance to the historic organization”, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement Monday evening. ” Harvard’s failure to protect students on campus from racist bias — all while promoting controversial ideas over free investigation — has put its popularity in serious trouble. Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus”.
The departments of Education and Health and Human Services, alongside the U. S. General Services Administration, will conduct the review of the Harvard funds, including more than$ 255.6 million in federal contracts and$ 8.7 billion in multiyear grant commitments, and report back to President Donald Trump’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, created via executive order in January.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CANCELS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY GRANTS WORTH$ 400 MILLION
The Trump administration gave Columbia nine preconditions the university must meet to negotiate the return of canceled funding, but White House officials did not respond to inquiries about any preconditions outlined for the Harvard investigation.
” The Task Force will continue its efforts to root out antisemitism and to refocus our institutions of higher learning on the core values that undergird a liberal education” , , added Sean Keveney, acting HHS general counsel antisemitism task force member. ” We are pleased that Harvard is willing to engage with us on these goals”.
