Harvard rejects Trump’s demands on antisemitism policy, faces $2.2B freeze

Harvard University said Monday it will not follow the Trump administration’s demands to change how it governs to tackle antisemitism on campus, calling them unlawful.

In response, the federal government froze $2.2 billion in multiyear research grants and a $60 million contract.

The demands included reducing student and faculty influence, reporting foreign student misconduct to federal authorities and hiring oversight to ensure “viewpoint diversity”.

The administration claimed that Harvard failed to protect Jewish students after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel spurred on-campus protests last year. It accused the university of allowing antisemitism and failing to justify federal funding.

Harvard President Alan Garber says the government is overstepping its legal authority, and the university would not surrender its independence or constitutional rights.

Meanwhile, several top universities have sued the government to restore $400 million in slashed research funds.