Trump Intends to Cancel All Federal Funds Directed at Harvard
New York TimesJUN 2
Trump Moves to Cut $100M in Federal Contracts for Harvard
Above: The Harvard University campus, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Image copyright: Ziyu Julian Zhu/Contributor/Xinhua via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Harvard has repeatedly failed to address serious antisemitism on campus and continues to illegally discriminate based on race in admissions despite clear Supreme Court rulings. The university's refusal to disclose basic records about international students raises legitimate national security concerns, especially since taxpayers fund billions in grants. These accountability measures ensure that federal dollars are allocated to institutions that comply with civil rights laws and protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination.
Democratic narrative
The administration is conducting an unprecedented assault on academic freedom and First Amendment rights by demanding control over the university curriculum, personnel decisions, and student admissions. Harvard has complied with legal requirements, including Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action, as evidenced by declining Black enrollment rates. The government's demands for "viewpoint diversity" audits and foreign student surveillance represent dangerous government overreach that threatens higher education nationwide.