Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau
The US Department of Education has announced that it has frozen about $2.3 billion in federal funds in grants and contracts to Harvard University, since the university refused to follow White House demands, including to limit activism on campus and shut down diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Detailing its decision, the education department’s task force said that it was freezing $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contract value to Harvard University.
In a letter sent to Harvard on Friday, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms, including changes to its governance, hiring practices and admissions procedures but the varsity rejected the list of sweeping demands to change its policies.
In an X post on Monday, Harvard University stated “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
White House had said that the policy changes were designed to combat antisemitism on campus but Harvard University President Alan Garber, in a letter to Harvard community on Friday, had stated that the sweeping demands violated the university’s First Amendment rights and “exceeds the statutory limits of the government’s authority under Title VI,” AP reported.
The education department’s task force, in a statement on fighting antisemitism said, “Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges – that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws,” Reuters reported.
The letter by the Trump administration included 10 categories for proposed changes for Harvard University to continue receiving federal funds.
