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Harvard University is facing a $2.2 billion freeze in U.S. government grants and $60 million in contracts after the institution refused to comply with the Trump administration’s demands to restrict campus activism. The move marks the seventh time the Trump administration has withheld funding from a major U.S. academic institution.
The letter from the Trump administration, sent on Friday, includes calls for reforms in admissions, hiring practices, and diversity policies at Harvard, as well as the removal of student groups endorsing criminal activity. It also suggests banning face masks, a measure perceived as targeting pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
In response, Harvard President Alan Garber argued that these demands infringe on the university’s First Amendment rights and exceed the government’s legal authority. He emphasized that no government should dictate what private universities teach or how they manage their operations.
Former President Barack Obama praised Harvard for rejecting the administration’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and intellectual inquiry. He urged other universities to follow Harvard’s example.
Harvard is not the only Ivy League institution facing pressure. The Trump administration has also paused federal funding for other universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton. The demands reflect an ongoing campaign to influence campus policies on contentious issues, including Israel and Palestine.
The cuts have sparked protests from Harvard students, alumni, and faculty members, with some calling for legal challenges against the federal government’s actions. The American Association of University Professors has also filed a lawsuit, arguing that the cuts violate legal procedures and aim to impose political views on academic institutions.
Source: Swifteradio.com
