Upon his return to the White House, President Donald J. Trump has prioritised challenging elite universities, which he and numerous conservative supporters consider liberal strongholds. Harvard , one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the nation, has emerged as the focal point of this campaign.
The Trump administration has taken a major step in its widening confrontation with elite universities by cutting off Harvard University from all new federal research grants, intensifying a months-long political and legal battle that has become a flashpoint in the national culture war over higher education.
In a letter sent Monday to Harvard President Alan M. Garber, Education Secretary Linda McMahon declared that the federal government would no longer award new grants to the university, citing “disastrous mismanagement,” a failure to combat antisemitism, and what she called a betrayal of academic values.
“This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek grants from the federal government, since none will be provided,” McMahon wrote, calling the university a “mockery” of higher education and accusing it of “ugly racism” and “humiliating plagiarism scandals.” The letter, laced with ideological grievances and punctuated with capitalized words for emphasis, accused Harvard of abandoning its commitment to academic excellence and of employing “relatively few conservative faculty members.”
The move marks the administration’s most aggressive action yet against Harvard, which has become a central target of President Trump’s renewed campaign against elite academic institutions. Since returning to the White House, Mr. Trump has frequently accused top universities of fostering liberal bias, suppressing conservative viewpoints, and tolerating antisemitic incidents, claims his administration has used to justify sweeping federal interventions.
A Broader Strategy Against Academia
The administration’s latest tactic reflects a shift in strategy. Earlier this year, the Department of Education abruptly suspended more than $2 billion in existing research funding to Harvard, prompting the university to file a lawsuit arguing that the move violated the First Amendment and federal administrative law. But by now halting new grants rather than revoking existing ones, the administration may be pursuing a more legally durable path.
According to The New York Times, the administration’s goal is to pressure Harvard into accepting a list of sweeping demands. These include the appointment of a political overseer to ensure “viewpoint diversity” in academic departments, increased scrutiny of international students, and mandatory reporting of plagiarism and misconduct among faculty.
An Education Department official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Harvard’s future eligibility for federal research support depends on its willingness to address issues including race-based admissions, campus speech policies, and diversity in hiring.
In a statement issued Monday evening, Harvard sharply criticized the administration’s decision.
“Harvard will continue to comply with the law, promote and encourage respect for viewpoint diversity, and combat antisemitism in our community,” the statement read. “Harvard will also continue to defend against illegal government overreach aimed at stifling research and innovation that make Americans safer and more secure.”