Harvard University refuses to comply with Trump admin's demands to combat campus antisemitism

By lauraharris // 2025-04-19

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Harvard refuses to comply with a December 2019 executive order allowing federal funding cuts for colleges deemed to tolerate antisemitism, which critics argue conflates criticism of Israel with bigotry.
Harvard President Alan Garber called the demands unconstitutional, asserting they violate First Amendment rights and Title VI, arguing no government should dictate university policies on speech, hiring, or research.
The administration retaliated by freezing $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts, accusing Harvard of an "entitlement mindset" and failing to protect Jewish students amid pro-Palestine protests.
Harvard is the seventh university targeted in a wider battle over free speech, DEI and alleged antisemitism, framed by the administration as a civil rights enforcement measure.

Harvard University has announced that it will not comply with the demands of the Trump administration to combat campus antisemitism under a controversial executive order. The clash stems from a December 2019 executive order directing the Department of Education to withhold funding from colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism – a measure critics argue conflates criticism of Israel with bigotry. The Trump administration has since escalated pressure on Harvard, citing inadequate action against campus hostility toward Jewish students. In March, federal officials threatened Harvard to review $256 million in active federal contracts and $8.7 billion in long-term grants unless the university adopted sweeping reforms. A follow-up letter this month from the task force demanded the university to overhaul student discipline policies to curb antisemitism; dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, strengthen vetting of international applicants to exclude those deemed "hostile to American values," including alleged supporters of "terrorism or antisemitism;" and end race-based admissions preferences, relying solely on merit. However, Harvard President Alan Garber argued that the conditions violate Harvard's First Amendment rights and exceed federal authority under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Garber even called the ultimatum an unconstitutional overreach in a statement on April 14. "No government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," Garber wrote, vowing to resist the "unprecedented" demands.

Trump admin retaliates with Harvard's non-compliance, suspends billions of federal funding for the university

The administration retaliated by suspending $2.2 billion in pending multi−year grants and $60 million in federal contracts linked to the Ivy League institution. Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism rebuked Harvard for its "troubling entitlement mindset," asserting that universities accepting federal funds must uphold civil rights protections for Jewish students. (Related: Trump administration SUSPENDS federal grants to Princeton University amid antisemitism probe.) "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," the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism said. The Trump administration has justified its crackdown by citing concerns over antisemitism on college campuses following protests against Israel's war in Gaza. The Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism accused Harvard of fostering an "entitlement mindset" by ignoring civil rights laws tied to federal funding. "The disruption of learning that has plagued campuses in recent years is unacceptable. The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable," the task force stated. This move marks the seventh time the Trump administration has withheld funding from elite universities in an escalating battle over free speech, diversity policies and allegations of antisemitism on campuses. Six of the targeted institutions are Ivy League schools, namely the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Brown University, Princeton University, Cornell University and Northwestern University – all of which faced similar financial threats. Head over to EducationSystem.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip about colleges facing backlash and potentially losing funding over allegations of antisemitism on campus.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump admin retaliates with Harvard's non-compliance, suspends billions of federal funding for the university

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