JUST IN: President Trump Deals Harvard Yet Another Massive Blow

Harvard University, once viewed as the gold standard in higher education, has come under intense scrutiny in recent years—largely due to the rise of what critics call “woke” ideology and a troubling increase in antisemitic incidents on campus. That reputational hit has now drawn the attention—and action—of President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January.

Since then, the Trump administration has taken a hard stance against Harvard, beginning with the slashing of more than $2 billion in federal grants. On Tuesday, the administration doubled down, announcing that it is pulling an additional $450 million in funding.

The reason? According to officials, Harvard has consistently failed to address racial discrimination and antisemitism on its campus. In a statement, members of Trump’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism accused the university of prioritizing “appeasement over accountability” and argued that the school no longer deserves taxpayer support.

“There’s a serious cultural and ethical issue festering within Harvard,” the task force said. “By refusing to take meaningful corrective action, the university’s leadership has jeopardized both its reputation and its federal funding.”

Harvard, however, isn’t backing down. In a strongly worded statement, Harvard President Alan Garber pushed back against the administration’s demands—calling them an attack on academic freedom. “The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” Garber said, warning that no government, regardless of who is in power, should be able to dictate what private universities teach or how they operate.

The standoff escalated after the Trump administration demanded sweeping changes at Harvard, including audits of academic departments, reviews of campus speech, and overhauls in governance and hiring. In total, more than $9 billion in current and future federal funding is now under review—including research funding and grants tied to top medical institutions like Massachusetts General, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children’s Hospital.

In response to fears that cutting this funding could harm critical research, billionaire investor and Harvard alum Bill Ackman argued that holding the university accountable is more important than preserving its access to federal money. The public debate continues to intensify online, as critics and supporters weigh in on what this means for the future of higher education—and whether Harvard can reclaim its standing as a leader in both academics and values.