Harvard resisted Trump who froze two billion dollars
Relations between US President Administration Donald Trump And the most prominent universities in the country have become even more tight. The US Ministry of Education has announced that it freezes more than two billion dollars in Harvard University, after this famous institution strongly rejected the extensive list of White House requirements.
Measures are to be formally intended to fight anti -Semitism and alleged violations of civil rights, but they are understood on Harvard as an inadmissible attempt to interfere with university autonomy and the promotion of political goals. Harvard has thus become the seventh top university that Trump’s administration tried to subordinate in this way, foreign media reports, including BBC, Times, Ap and Guardian.
President Harvard Alan Garber is on Monday In a letter to the academic community revealedLast Friday, the White House sent a « updated and expanded list of requirements » with a clear threat: if the university wants to maintain access to federal resources (some estimates that almost $ 9 billion has been at risk), it must meet the requests.
The Harvard incident is just the last chapter in the wider campaign of Trump’s government against US universities. Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters
« We have informed the administration through our legal representatives that we would not agree to their proposed agreement, » Garber wrote. “The university will not surrender its independence or give up its constitutional rights. No administration – regardless of party affiliation – they should dictate to private universities, what they can teach, who can accept and hire and what areas of study and research can undertake. «
Freezing of funds and complaint about “feeling justified”
The response of Trump administration was immediate and sharp. The competent ministry or project team to fight anti -Semitism reported that it immediately freezes $ 2.2 billion in multi -year subsidies and $ 60 million. « Harvard’s statement is strengthened today by the worrying sense of the privilegation that is characteristic of the most prestigious universities (…) – that federal investments do not also bring responsibility for compliance with civil rights laws, » they wrote.
The Trump government, which promises a more determined fight against anti -Semitism than the previous Bidnova, has launched new investigations and ordered the detention and expulsion of some foreign students related to protests. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
They also cited alleged violations of these rights, unacceptable « disorders of the study process » and « unsustainable harassment of Jewish students » at universities. They demanded « major changes » if they want to continue to receive taxpayers’ money.
The White House list was extremely extensive and, if accepted by Harvard, would radically interfere with the very essence of the university. Although the cause of anti -Semitism was supposed to be, the demands went much broader and included, among other things,:
– Introducing adoption and employment policies based solely on achievements.
– Checking the views of students, professors and leadership regarding diversity issues.
– reporting to the federal authorities about students showing « hostile attitude towards American values. »
– ensuring « plurality of opinions » in all academic wards.
– renting an external auditor approved by the government to review programs that are supposed to stimulate anti -Semitism.
– complete abolition of all university policies and programs to promote diversity, justice and inclusion (known under the abbreviation dei).
– prohibition of recognizing or financing certain student groups (mainly Propalestin).
– General prohibition of wearing protective masks in the premises of the university (a measure directed against protesters).
– Full cooperation with the Ministry of Homeland Security in Treating Students.
Harvard returns the ball
In his response, President Garber stressed that the university is seriously taking the fight against anti -Semitism and has already taken a number of measures in this area. However, most of the requirements of the White House, in his opinion, have no direct connection with this objective, but is an attempt to « direct governmental ‘intellectual conditions » at the university. He also noted that withdrawal of funds to the top research institution not only threatens its operation, but indirectly the « health and well -being of millions » and « economic security of the state », as Harvard conducts key research in science and medicine. In his opinion, such a conditioning of assistance violates the constitutional right to freedom of speech and exceeds the authorizations of the government under the Federal Civil Rights Act.
The Harvard incident is just the last chapter in the wider struggle of Trump’s administration against American universities, especially those in the prestigious group Ivy League. The pressures strengthened after Hamas 7. October 2023 and the wave of Propalestin protests that followed. The Trump administration, which promises a more determined fight against anti -Semitism than the previous Bidnova, has launched new investigations and ordered the detention and expulsion of some foreign students related to protests.
Most of the White House requirements, according to the leaders, have no direct relationship with the required measures, but are an attempt to « direct government governance of ‘intellectual conditions' » at the university. Photo: Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters
Before Harvard, the federal agents were already frozen Columbia, Pennsylvania, Brown, Princeton, Cornell and Northwestern University, writes English BBC. Columbia partially relented and accepted some of the requirements under pressure, but the frozen funds were nevertheless returned but further reduced. The Princeton University, like Harvard now, rejected the White House demands. Harvard, with more than $ 50 billion, has the largest university financial fund in the world, giving it a greater degree of independence than federal financing.
The White House move encountered strong resistance. A group of influential Harvard graduates publicly called for a rebellion against « illegal requirements that threaten academic freedom. » Over the weekend, protests were held at the university itself, and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) already filed a lawsuit on Friday, which challenges government measures, writes Ap. While Democrats like a senator Bernie Sandersthey welcome « Harvard’s courage », writes Times, Republicans like the congress Elise Stefanikhowever, they call for the complete abolition of the federal financing of the university.
