Harvard University is facing a $2.2 billion freeze in federal funding after rejecting a series of sweeping demands from the White House aimed at addressing anti-Semitism on college campuses. The funding hold also includes a pause on $60 million in government contracts.
The Biden administration’s demands, expanded in a detailed letter last Friday, included changes to Harvard’s governance, hiring policies, and admissions practices. Earlier requests sent on April 3 had already called for the closure of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and required the university to cooperate with immigration authorities in vetting international students.
In a letter to students and faculty, Harvard President Alan Garber stated the university would stand firm, asserting that Harvard “will not negotiate over its independence or its constitutional rights.”
In response, the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, an initiative formed under former President Donald Trump, issued a statement criticizing Harvard’s position. The group defended the funding freeze as necessary to enforce civil rights protections, especially for Jewish students.
“Harvard’s response highlights the entitlement mindset that has taken root in many elite institutions — that federal funding comes without accountability,” the task force said. “The continued disruption of campus life and harassment of Jewish students cannot be tolerated. Universities must make meaningful changes if they expect continued taxpayer support.”
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions on campuses nationwide following widespread student protests over Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Some of those demonstrations led to clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups, as well as confrontations with police. Republican leaders, including Trump, have accused some campus activists of expressing support for Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization responsible for the deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
The Department of Education previously announced an investigation into 60 colleges and universities for alleged anti-Semitic incidents. Harvard had already been under review for $9 billion in federal funding before the latest freeze was imposed.
The most recent set of government demands also includes a controversial call for an “audit” of student and faculty viewpoints, raising additional concerns among academic leaders about government overreach.
