Elite schools underfire as Trump voices criticism; Harvard president advocates for resilience
Updated May 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM CDT
Harvard University's president criticizes Trump administration's actions against the institution, expressing confusion over the administration's decision to freeze over $2 billion in research grants and contracts. The administration attempted to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students last week, a move that has been temporarily halted following a lawsuit filed by the university.
President Alan Garber told NPR's Morning Edition that he finds the measures taken by the Trump administration to be "perplexing." While acknowledging campus issues, he struggles to see a connection between funding freezes and fighting antisemitism.
"Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country because after all, the research funding is not a gift," Garber stated, emphasizing that these funds support high-priority work designated by the federal government. On Tuesday, the Trump administration requested federal agencies to cancel approximately $100 million worth of remaining contracts with Harvard by June 6.
NPR reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
As evidence of the university's contributions to the U.S. public, Garber pointed to recent honors awarded to Harvard faculty by the Breakthrough Prize, often referred to as "The Oscars of Science." These honors recognized their work on obesity and diabetes drugs, gene editing to correct disease-causing genetic variations, and other groundbreaking research.
The administration's multi-billion dollar funding freeze followed Harvard's refusal to comply with demands to change policies around hiring and admissions, eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, or screen international students who may support terrorism or antisemitism.
The federal government's Joint Task Force to combat antisemitism stated in an April statement that Harvard's lack of compliance "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."
Following a federal judge's decision to block the administration's attempt to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students, President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, asserting that the home countries of those students are "not at all friendly to the United States" and they "pay NOTHING toward their student's education." The president's post also questioned who those foreign students are.
Garber discussed Harvard's ongoing legal battles with the Trump administration, the importance of research universities, and the administration's concerns about antisemitism on campus during an interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep. The interview was lightly edited for length and clarity.
In the interview, Garber emphasized that the administration's efforts to address antisemitism and viewpoint diversity on campus are misguided because they do not target the root causes of these issues. Instead, the research funding freeze harms both Harvard and the country, as the research dollars are designated for high-priority work conducted under federal guidance.
Garber noted that the university is committed to addressing speech issues on campus and ensuring viewpoint diversity is respected, but he expressed reservations about the administration's demands, such as those related to hiring and admissions policies, as they conflict with the university's core mission of education and knowledge dissemination.
Regarding the DHS statement that accused Harvard of refusing to provide information and ignoring follow-up questions, Garber stated that to his knowledge, these claims are untrue and that the university has consistently complied with the law. He went on to say that the university's report on campus issues, commissioned by its own president, highlights concerns related to antisemitism and social exclusion but does not support the administration's assertions.
Garber stressed that Harvard, a very old institution, views its role as serving the nation, having done so since the United States' inception. He acknowledged the university's mistakes and shortcomings but emphasized the importance of civil discourse and the exchange of ideas on campus. He believes that international students play a crucial role in promoting open-mindedness and diversity on campus.
[1] https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/12/07/trump-administration-seeking-revoke-harvards-authority-enroll-international-students[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59363138[3] https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/09/politics/harvard-international-students-trump-administration/index.html
[1] The ongoing dispute between Harvard University and the federal government, as seen in the Trump administration's attempts to freeze research grants and contracts, is a prime example of politics intertwining with education-and-self-development, policy-and-legislation, and general-news.
[2] Despite the Trump administration's concerns about antisemitism on campus, the administration's actions towards Harvard, including the revocation of international student enrollment and the multi-billion dollar funding freeze, have been met with resistance and confusion, as highlighted in ongoing online-education debates.
[3] The Trump administration's policy-and-legislation towards Harvard can be linked to the broader controversy over war-and-conflicts, as some argue that the administration is using education as a political weapon, while others view it as a matter of national security.
[4] In a world where science, technology, and environment are constantly evolving, the Trump administration's controversial actions against Harvard University undermine the importance of learning, lifelong-learning, and community development, as noted by Harvard's President Alan Garber.
[5] The administration's actions against Harvard University not only impact the institution's ability to conduct vital research in areas like obesity and diabetes drugs, gene editing, and other groundbreaking science, but also potentially hinder the progress of the entire nation.
[6] The Trump administration's requests for Harvard to change hiring and admissions policies, eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, or screen international students who may support terrorism or antisemitism, have sparked heated debates within the community, with some viewing them as infringements on Harvard's academic freedom and others as necessary for national security.
[7] As the issue continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the complexities of politics, the importance of education, and the role of government in shaping both domestic and international policies.
