President Donald Trump has sharply intensified his administration¡¯s stand with Harvard University. In a series of moves that target the university¡¯s finances and autonomy, Trump has frozen billions in federal research grants. These actions come after Harvard rejected his administration¡¯s demands to alter its approach to hiring, campus protests, and diversity programs.
On Friday, Trump posted on his social media platform, saying, ¡°We are going to be taking away Harvard¡¯s Tax Exempt Status. It¡¯s what they deserve!¡± This statement came after Harvard declined to follow the administration¡¯s demands on campus speech and diversity policies.
Trump had stated that Harvard¡¯s tax-exempt status depends on its actions being in the public interest. A day after his post, the Department of Justice confirmed that it had asked the IRS to begin the process of removing Harvard¡¯s 501(c)(3) nonprofit classification. Losing that tax status would significantly impact Harvard¡¯s financial standing.
Before the tax status announcement, the Trump administration had already halted $2.2 billion in federal research grants to Harvard. The funding suspension was a direct response to the university¡¯s refusal to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and change its approach to hiring and administration. Trump also commented publicly, asking Education Secretary Linda McMahon, ¡°And it looks like we are not going to be giving them any more grants, right Linda?¡±
The Trump administration¡¯s pressure campaign against Harvard is rooted in how the university handled pro-Palestinian protests following Israel¡¯s military actions in Gaza in 2023. Trump accused the university of supporting ideologically dangerous ideas. He demanded that Harvard crack down on DEI initiatives, protest masks, and certain activist groups.
Harvard responded by refusing to comply with the federal demands, calling them a violation of academic freedom and free speech. The university filed a lawsuit after the funding freeze and also released two reports highlighting campus discrimination during protests. These reports documented incidents affecting Jewish, Muslim, and Arab students. Harvard, however, pledged to address discrimination on campus.
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