Trump Administration Suspends $2.2 Billion in Grants to Harvard University Over Its Refusal to Remove DEI Programs

On Monday, the Trump administration decided to suspend $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University. This decision comes after the university rejected demands by the administration.

The Trump administration has decided to suspend $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University following the university's refusal to comply with administration demands.

The demands included the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and the screening of international students for ideological concerns, which Harvard rejected, according to a report by CNBC.

The rejection of these demands by Harvard puts nearly $9 billion in federal funding at risk. The White House has also issued similar threats to other universities, including Columbia, Cornell, and Northwestern.

"No government - regardless of which party is in power - should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," said Harvard President Alan Garber.

The U.S. General Services Administration and Department of Education responded by detailing the freeze of $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contract value to Harvard.

The federal agencies highlighted the importance of universities adhering to civil rights laws throughout their operations, further adding that "the harassment of Jewish students is intolerable."

The White House, through spokesperson Harrison Fields, also emphasized the administration's focus on ensuring federal funds do not support racial discrimination.

Harvard is equipped with a $53 billion endowment, which might help it better stave off financial pressure from the Trump administration.

Tax exemptions for private universities have also been questioned, with Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman opining that private universities with billion-dollar endowments should not be fully exempt from taxes.

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