Harvard Refuses to Fight Anti-Semitism, Loses $2 Billion in Funding

The United States Department of Education froze over $2 billion in funding to Harvard on Monday after the university refused to comply to changes to fight anti-Semitism.

Changes: President Donald Trump’s administration sent a letter to Harvard on Friday, demanding the university change several policies to combat rising anti-Semitism on its campus. Those changes included:

• Hiring a third party to audit programs and departments “that most fuel anti-Semitic harassment”
• Ensuring each department is “viewpoint diverse”
• Reporting students who are hostile to American values to the federal government
• Taking disciplinary action for “violations” during protests

Refusal: Harvard refused the government’s demands. In a letter response on Monday, Harvard president Alan Garber said the White House is trying to “control” the university and “no government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach.”

Former President Barack Obama praised Harvard for its response.

Funding removed: Shortly after receiving Harvard’s rejection letter, the Department of Education froze $2.2 billion in research grants and $60 million in contracts to the university.

President Trump later threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status if it continued to refuse to comply with the government. Universities are typically exempt from paying federal income tax as long as the school remains uninvolved in politics.

Pro-Palestinian education: Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, some of America’s most vocal pro-Palestinian supporters have come from the nation’s universities. Regular anti-Israel protests have occurred on campuses, some of which have been violent.

To learn more, read “The Sickness in American Universities.”