After Harvard University said he refuses to meet a series of demands from the administration of President Donald Trump, the joint task force to combat anti -Semitism announced a multimillion -dollar freezing in funds for the university.
The administration work group said Monday night that it would retain $ 2.2 billion in subsidies of several years and $ 60 million in contractual value of several years to the institution.
“The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable. It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and commit to significant change if they wish to continue receiving support from taxpayers,” said the working group in a statement.
The decision occurs after Harvard University President Alan Garber said In a letter On Monday, the school “will not deliver its independence or give up its constitutional rights” by accepting a series of terms proposed by the Trump administration.
The Trump administration had demanded that Harvard finish its diversity, equity and inclusion programs; adopt admissions based on merit; and cooperate with immigration authorities, or risk losing $ 9 billion in federal funds. Garber at that time said that the loss of funds “would stop the investigation to save lives.”
Garber said that the loss of financing based on policy options violates the first amendment and that “it would stop the investigation that will save life.”
Harvard’s rejection of Trump’s demands marks the first time an important university has rejected the financing threats made by the Trump administration.
The protesters join in Cambridge Common in a protest organized by the city of Cambridge asking Harvard leadership to resist interference at the university by the federal government in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 12, 2025.
Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters, file
In a letter on April 11, the Trump administration argued that the school “could not meet the conditions of intellectual and civil rights that justify federal investment” and the proposed terms, including the change in school governance, adopting hiring based on merit, closing any program ofi and allowing “audits” to guarantee “diversity of views”.
In response, Harvard president said the school is committed to making changes to create a “cozy and support learning environment” and reaffirmed the vote of the school to combat anti -Semitism. However, he argued that Trump’s administration requests would go too far.
“The prescription of the administration goes beyond the power of the federal government. Viola the rights of the first amendment of Harvard and exceeds the legal limits of the government’s authority under Title VI,” Garber wrote. “And threatens our values as a private institution dedicated to the search, production and dissemination of knowledge. No government, regardless of what party is in power, should dictate which private universities can teach, who can admit and hire, and what areas of study and research can do.”
The letter occurred days after the members of the Faculty of the University of Harvard asked a federal judge to block the Trump administration attempt to reduce billions in funds, argue that the threat of a fund cut is a “existential” weapon in the head “for a university.”
In a lawsuit filed on April 11, two groups that represent the Faculty of Harvard University argued that the Trump administration is exceeding its authority by “undermining freedom of expression and academic research in the service of government political or political preferences.”
“This case implies an unprecedented threat of the Trump Administration to retain almost nine billion dollars in federal funds to one of the main universities of our nation, unless it access to changes that fundamentally compromise the independence of the university and the rights of freedom of expression of its faculty and students,” the lawsuit alleged, asking for a judge that issues an emergency order that prohibits the Trump administration of making changes in the funds.
The American Association of University Teachers and its chapter in Harvard argued that the Trump administration could not follow the specific procedure established by the Civil Rights Law to rescind funds, however threatening to rescind $ 255 million in funds, in addition to almost $ 9 billion in subsidies of several years, unless the school implements a series of changes in policies.
“These radical but indeterminate demands are not remedies aimed at the causes of any determination of breach with the federal law. Instead, they seek to impose political views and political preferences of Harvard University advanced by the Trump administration and commit the university to punish disorderly discourse,” says demand.
Others within the community of higher education have been with Harvard in their response.
Wil del Pilar, senior vice president of the Defense Group The Education Trust, told ABC News that Garber’s decision to reject the demands of the administration is held throughout the community of higher education.
“What really represents for higher education is hope,” said Del Pilar, added: “It represents the hope of institutions that have been afraid to face an administration that is trying to implement their will, not only in the admissions of the institutions, but also in the curriculum.”
Former President Barack Obama, who went to Harvard’s Law Faculty, praised Harvard University for his rejection of Trump’s demands in A publication on social networks Monday night.
“Harvard has given an example for other institutions of ED of Superior: rejecting an illegal attempt and with their hands in the ham of querying academic freedom, while taking concrete measures to ensure that all Harvard students can benefit from an intellectual research environment, rigorous debate and mutual respect,” Obama wrote. “Hopefully other institutions do the same.”
Obama did not specifically approach the freezing of funds announced by the Trump administration.
A person goes to Elliot House at Harvard University, on March 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Scott Eisen/Getty Images
The confrontation follows similar actions against other prestigious universities.
Last month, Columbia University agreed to meet the demands of the administration with respect to the policies and governance of the campus after its federal financing was suspended after campus protests. The agreement occurred after the administration cited concerns about anti -Semitism and public safety.
The Department of Education has also initiated research at the University of Cornell and the University of the Northwest, according to White House officials. The Trump administration has arrested more than $ 1 billion in federal funds to Cornell and $ 790 million to Northwestern due to investigations on alleged civil rights violations.
Selina Wang and Arthur Jones II of ABC News contributed to this report.
