Trump plans to eliminate the rest of Harvard University's federal financial aid.
The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, is reportedly planning to terminate contracts worth around $100 million with Ivy League institution Harvard, according to several US media outlets. The New York Times claims it has obtained a draft of a letter from the government's authorities ordering the termination of existing contracts with Harvard, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As of yet, the White House has not confirmed these plans.
Tensions between Harvard and the Trump administration have escalated over allegations of the university's perceived left-leaning bias and insufficient efforts to combat antisemitism, notably through pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses. The administration has applied pressure on several universities, with Harvard being one of the institutions resisting the government's demands regarding admission procedures, behavioral rules, and personnel decisions. In retaliation, the administration has withheld billions in funding from Harvard and recently barred the university from accepting new international students.
A federal judge granted Harvard a temporary injunction on Friday, halting the ban on admitting international students and allowing the university to continue enrolling them. However, it remains uncertain how this legal dispute will unfold. Harvard's ability to sponsor international students is crucial for its academic mission, as significant numbers of international students are integral to the university's academic diversity.
The ongoing disputes between the Trump administration and Harvard University could potentially impact collaborative research and educational opportunities with other institutions, while ongoing legal uncertainty could deter future international applicants and damage the university's reputation.
[1] Harvard challenges funding freeze, claiming it infringes on First Amendment rights - The Wall Street Journal. (2020, August 11). Retrieved September 9, 2020, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/harvard-university-sues-education-department-over-proposed-loss-of-funding-11597198682
[2] Harvard sues federal government over students visas - BBC News. (2020, August 21). Retrieved September 9, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53849766
- The ongoing legal dispute between Harvard University and the Trump administration, sparked by allegations of left-leaning bias and antisemitism concerns, may also touch upon education-and-self-development matters, as Harvard has recently sued the Education Department over proposed loss of funding, claiming it infringes on First Amendment rights.
- Amidst tensions between Harvard and the US government, general-news outlets reported that the university has taken legal action against the federal government, suing over student visas, in an effort to safeguard its education and self-development opportunities for international students amidst the administration's pressure and funding restrictions in politics.
