Trump’s Harvard Heist: $100M Funding Rip-Off Sparks Outrage! Academic Giant Faces Existential Threat in Administration’s Crosshairs
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| Credit _Jagran English |
The Trump administration will instruct U.S. federal agencies to examine Harvard University's grants, potentially terminating or reallocating funds, as part of the White House's intensifying conflict with the nation's oldest university.
The General Services Administration (GSA) intends to send a directive to agencies, requesting them to determine if Harvard contracts can be "terminated or reassigned to other entities," according to a senior White House official.
The administration estimates that approximately 30 contracts, totaling $100 million (£74 million), may be subject to review. It has already suspended $2.65 billion in federal grants and attempted to block Harvard's ability to admit international students.
Harvard University did not provide an immediate response. On its website, the university states that its "innovative medical, scientific, and technological research" has traditionally received support from the federal government and other sources.
Highlighting its research on cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases, and obesity, the university's website cautions that "without federal funding, this work will cease abruptly.
The White House is initiating a review of federal funds allocated to Harvard University, rather than immediately withdrawing them. The review will assess whether the funding is essential, according to administration officials. The General Services Administration (GSA) will advise agencies to terminate contracts with Harvard that do not meet their standards, potentially redirecting those funds elsewhere.
A draft letter from the administration cites allegations of discrimination and antisemitism at Harvard as the basis for this action.
The move has sparked backlash among Harvard’s students and faculty. On Tuesday evening, a small group of protesters gathered to oppose the administration’s actions. Jacob Miller, a student and former leader of Harvard Hillel, the campus Jewish organization, called the administration’s antisemitism claims “baseless” and criticized the policy as misguided.
An official clarified to the BBC that any funding cuts would not impact Harvard-affiliated hospitals. Agencies can also argue to retain funding deemed vital to their operations.
Tensions between the White House and Harvard have intensified in recent months, marking this as the latest chapter in a broader conflict. In April, the administration threatened Harvard’s tax-exempt status and froze $2.2 billion in federal grants, leading to a lawsuit from the university. In May, an additional $450 million in grants was cut.
Last week, the Trump administration attempted to bar Harvard from enrolling international students and hosting foreign researchers, causing significant disruption for thousands of students. Harvard responded with another lawsuit, and a judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt the policy.
In an NPR interview on Tuesday, Harvard University President Alan Garber expressed concern about recent proposals to reduce federal research funding. “Why slash support for scientific discovery?” Garber asked, emphasizing the broader implications. “These cuts don’t just affect Harvard—they hinder national progress. Federal funding isn’t a handout; it’s an investment in critical research prioritized by the government, work they entrust universities and institutions to carry out.
Among the programs impacted is the Sinclair Lab at Harvard Medical School, which focuses on aging and potential treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, cancer, infertility, and immune disorders. The lab’s founder, geneticist David Sinclair, explained, Our mission is to decode the mechanisms of aging and develop therapies for a broad spectrum of diseases and injuries.
During the Trump administration, the lab was stripped of a National Institutes of Health grant, and scientist Kelly Rich lost a career development grant aimed at studying age reversal to fight motor diseases. The White House's decision to block Harvard from hosting international researchers impacted six individuals, representing half of the lab’s workforce.
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