Trump Administration Cuts Federal Grants to Harvard Amid Antisemitism Dispute

The Trump administration revokes $2.2 billion in federal funding from Harvard over antisemitism concerns, as the prestigious university refuses to comply with demands to reform its policies while battling the government in court.

Quick Takes

The Trump administration has withdrawn $2.2 billion in federal grants from Harvard University after the institution refused to comply with demands to address antisemitism on campus.
Harvard rejected administration demands including auditing student viewpoints, restricting certain international students, and closing diversity programs in favor of merit-based policies.
NIH Director Michelle Bulls informed Harvard that supporting research in its current environment is “inconsistent with NIH’s priorities” due to alleged widespread abuse of Jewish and Israeli students.
Harvard’s President Alan Garber called the demands “unprecedented” and has filed a lawsuit against the administration over the initial funding freeze.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has advised Harvard not to apply for additional federal grants while the dispute continues.

Harvard Defies Administration Demands

In a major escalation between the federal government and one of the nation’s most prestigious universities, the Trump administration has officially rescinded $2.2 billion in federal funding from Harvard University. The decision follows Harvard’s refusal to comply with several demands aimed at addressing what the administration describes as rampant antisemitism and racial discrimination on campus. Harvard University has taken a firm stance against what it characterizes as government overreach, filing a lawsuit against the administration after an initial funding freeze and publicly rejecting the demands as an infringement on its independence.

Harvard’s leadership has been vocal in its opposition to the administration’s requirements, which included auditing student viewpoints, restricting international students deemed hostile to American values, and shuttering diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in favor of merit-based policies. The Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, established under President Trump, pointed to what it called a “troubling entitlement mindset” in elite universities as justification for the unprecedented action. This clash represents one of the most significant confrontations between the federal government and higher education in recent memory.

Harvard University is suing the Trump administration one week after the federal joint antisemitism task force cut $2.2 billion in grants and contracts to the Ivy League school. | @dezward01 https://t.co/QBmlnWpkc4

— National Review (@NRO) April 22, 2025

The Official Funding Termination

On May 6, 2025, NIH Director for Extramural Research Michelle Bulls delivered the formal notice of funding termination in a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber. The letter specifically cited Harvard’s failure to address “widespread abuse of Jewish and Israeli students” and alleged race discrimination in both its admissions processes and operations at the Harvard Law Review. The administration’s decision effectively ends access to crucial research funding that supports numerous scientific and academic initiatives across the university’s various departments and research centers.

“Supporting research in such an environment is plainly inconsistent with NIH’s priorities,” said Michelle Bulls.

The university has been given 30 days to challenge the funding termination by providing documentation contrary to the administration’s findings. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has taken the additional step of advising Harvard not to submit any new grant applications, signaling the administration’s commitment to maintaining this position until the university addresses the concerns raised. Harvard representatives have been contacted for comment regarding the funding withdrawal but have not provided an official response to the termination notice.

White House and Presidential Stance

President Trump has personally weighed in on the dispute, suggesting that Harvard should potentially lose its tax-exempt status if it continues what he characterized as “political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness.'” The President emphasized that tax exemption is contingent on acting in the public interest, framing Harvard’s positions as counter to that standard. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields reaffirmed the administration’s position, stating that the President is working to improve higher education by confronting antisemitism and ensuring taxpayer dollars aren’t supporting discrimination.

“President Trump is working to Make Higher Education Great Again by ending unchecked anti-Semitism and ensuring federal taxpayer dollars do not fund Harvard’s support of dangerous racial discrimination or racially motivated violence,” said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields.

The administration’s approach represents a stark departure from previous federal relationships with higher education institutions. Columbia University, facing similar scrutiny, previously agreed to similar demands from the administration, including increased security and oversight of campus activities. This suggests the administration is prepared to take similar actions against other universities it deems noncompliant with its directives regarding antisemitism and campus speech policies. The situation highlights the growing tension between academic freedom and government oversight in American higher education.