The battle for campus rights has seen a significant escalation with the Trump administration’s latest move against Harvard University: a threat to cut all federal funding. This follows an investigation concluding that the civil rights of Jewish students were violated, with Harvard accused of being a “willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment.”
This severe threat builds upon previous financial penalties imposed on Harvard. The university had already foregone more than $2.6 billion in federal funding due to its non-compliance with President Trump’s earlier demands for significant reforms in its hiring, admissions, and governance practices. The current move intensifies the pressure on the Ivy League institution.
The broader context of this confrontation includes President Trump’s earlier public critiques of Harvard’s admissions policies, particularly concerning international students. He advocated for a reduction in foreign student enrollment, suggesting a 15% cap, arguing that a high number of international students, such as Harvard’s reported 31%, disadvantaged American applicants.
The administration had previously escalated its pressure by revoking Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which effectively barred the university from enrolling new international students and threatened the status of current ones. This led Harvard to pursue legal action, accusing the administration of unconstitutional retaliation. However, recent statements from President Trump indicate a potential thaw in relations, with ongoing negotiations hinting at a possible “historic” settlement.