US Slashes Additional $450 Million in Grants to Harvard

In a significant escalation of tensions between the U.S. government and the academic establishment, the Trump administration announced an additional $450 million in funding cuts to Harvard University on Tuesday.

The move comes just one day after Harvard’s president expressed a willingness to collaborate with the government on several critical issues.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said in a statement that the new round of cuts is being implemented due to a “dark problem” of discrimination reportedly embedded within the university.

These latest reductions add to the $2.2 billion already slashed last week, marking a dramatic shift in federal support for one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions.

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The decision follows a year of rising political scrutiny over campus culture and diversity initiatives at U.S. universities. The White House’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism cited ongoing concerns over alleged anti-Semitic incidents and what it described as Harvard’s “failure to uphold lawful standards of inclusion and safety for all students.”

In a letter addressed to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday, Harvard President Alan Garber had emphasized the university’s commitment to reform, particularly in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked intense debate and unrest on college campuses across the nation.

“The challenges of that academic year have led to meaningful reform and recommendations designed to eliminate antisemitism and other forms of hate from our campus,” Garber wrote, while also acknowledging the need for greater intellectual diversity and a more inclusive academic environment.

Garber also noted that students are recruited “based on their unique individual characteristics,” pushing back against accusations that Harvard’s admissions policies are overly focused on race or ideology.

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Despite these assurances, the Trump administration remains skeptical. In a sharp statement released Tuesday, the administration’s task force described Harvard as: “A breeding ground for virtue signaling and discrimination… tainted by egregious infractions under its leadership.”

The statement referenced Harvard’s own internal investigation, which reportedly found that Jewish students faced insults, physical assaults, and intimidation on campus.

While Harvard has taken the Trump administration to court over what it claims are unlawful attempts to interfere with university operations, Tuesday’s announcement suggests that Washington is doubling down on its push to reform higher education institutions, especially those it sees as fostering hostility toward free speech or certain communities.

Garber maintains that Harvard is not aligned with any political party or ideology and is focused solely on its mission of academic excellence. Still, reclaiming its reputation—and restoring federal funding—may prove an uphill battle in the current political climate.