U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to slash another $1 billion in funding to Harvard University, escalating tensions between his administration and elite academic institutions over campus protests.
This latest threat follows the administration’s earlier decision to withhold $2.3 billion in federal funds from Harvard, Columbia, and other universities. The move came in response to what the administration described as their failure to curb antisemitic behavior during pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.
Harvard pushed back last week, firmly rejecting the administration’s demands for control over student activities, faculty decisions, and academic content. University officials argued that conceding to such terms would undermine Harvard’s autonomy and academic freedom.
In a swift response, the Trump administration not only froze the $2.3 billion but also warned that Harvard could lose its tax-exempt status. Now, according to The Wall Street Journal, administration officials are considering an additional $1 billion cut in research funding. The move reportedly came after officials were surprised that Harvard treated their April 11 letter of demands as a negotiation starting point, rather than a directive.
Initially, Harvard was expected to receive more lenient treatment compared to Columbia University. However, officials now say they are planning to ramp up pressure on the Ivy League school.
Neither the White House nor Harvard had issued a public comment at the time of this report.
Since taking office in January, President Trump has made it a point to crack down on what he calls a lack of accountability on U.S. campuses. He accuses top universities of mishandling last year’s pro-Palestinian protests and of allowing antisemitism to flourish.
Protesters, including several Jewish advocacy groups, have argued that their criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza has been unfairly equated with antisemitism, saying their demonstrations are focused on human rights and U.S. foreign policy, not religious hostility.