President Freezes $2B in Federal Funds, Targets Harvard’s Independence

President Donald Trump has escalated his dispute with Harvard University by threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status just hours after halting $2 billion in federal funding. The administration insists Harvard must implement hiring, admissions, and teaching changes to combat antisemitism on campus, while also demanding more control over the institution’s governance. This standoff comes amid broader concerns that top universities are too political and fail to protect certain student groups—a view reflected in falling public confidence, especially among Republicans.

In a public letter, Harvard President Alan Garber rejected what he called government “control” of the school’s intellectual life, stressing that mandatory viewpoint monitoring and “viewpoint diversity” audits cross constitutional lines. The move follows a wave of demands from Washington, including blacklisting students “hostile to American values” and disciplining participants in campus demonstrations the White House deems antisemitic. Harvard’s defiance sets it apart from other elite universities—like Columbia, which earlier complied with some White House directives to regain hundreds of millions in frozen federal funds.

The administration’s crackdown suggests a continuing shift in federal–university relations, with critics warning it undermines academic freedom and free speech. Meanwhile, more Republican lawmakers are calling for the permanent withdrawal of U.S. grants if the school refuses to comply. Although Harvard’s vast $53 billion endowment cushions the immediate blow, losing federal research support—and potentially its tax-exempt status—could significantly reshape the future of one of America’s premier higher-education institutions.