Trump Freezes $2.2 Billion in Harvard Grants Over Campus Protests and ‘Activism’

The Trump administration demands sweeping reforms at Harvard, sparking legal backlash and protests over alleged free speech violations and political overreach.

Cambridge, Massachusetts | April 15, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of the White House’s stance on campus activism, President Donald Trump has ordered the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University. The move follows Harvard’s refusal to comply with federal demands targeting student protests and diversity-related policies.

Also Read: Donald Trump May Invoke Martial Law-Like Measures on April 20-Here is What Will Happen

The administration’s letter to Harvard, delivered Friday, included a list of conditions: adopt merit-based admissions and hiring, audit university personnel on their diversity views, ban the use of face masks during demonstrations (a likely reference to pro-Palestinian protests), and withdraw funding or recognition from any student group promoting what the White House termed “criminal activity.”

Also Read: “Biden’s War, Not Mine”: Trump Blames 2020 Election and Biden for Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Harvard Responds: “Violation of First Amendment”

Harvard University President Alan Garber strongly pushed back against the order, calling it an overreach of federal authority and a violation of free speech protections.

Also Read: Asian Markets Rally as Trump Pauses Tariffs on Electronics; Nikkei, Hang Seng, Kospi Surge

“No government — regardless of party — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they admit or hire, or which fields of study they pursue,” Garber wrote in a letter to the Harvard community, referencing protections under Title VI, which prohibits federal discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.

Garber emphasized that Harvard has already enacted reforms to address antisemitism, and condemned the administration’s attempts to interfere in academic independence.

Trump Task Force Fires Back

The Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, created under the Trump administration, responded by accusing Harvard of showing an “entitlement mindset.”

“Harvard’s statement reinforces the troubling mindset that prestigious institutions believe federal investment should come without the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws,” the task force said in a statement.

Part of a Larger Crackdown

Harvard is not alone. The Trump administration has also paused federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton, citing concerns over unchecked campus antisemitism during protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.

A similar notice sent to Columbia University reportedly led to rapid policy changes to avoid funding loss.

Legal & Public Pushback

On Friday, the American Association of University Professors filed a lawsuit, arguing the funding freeze violated due process under Title VI. Meanwhile, thousands of students, faculty, and Cambridge residents protested at Cambridge Common, demanding the university resist political interference.

---

Tags:

Donald Trump, Harvard University, campus protests, US education policy, Title VI, federal funding freeze, antisemitism on campus, First Amendment rights, student activism, Trump administration crackdown, Ivy League universities, Harvard protest 2025, free speech in education, pro-Palestine protests, Alan Garber