The Trump administration has issued a freeze on $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University, after the institution refused to obey federal requests. The requests include audits of student opinions, faculty opinions, staff opinions, academic programs, departments, student perspectives, and faculty perspectives, along with revisions to Harvard's governance structure and hiring policies.
Harvard President Alan Garber responded in an unyielding tone, affirming that the university "will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights." He made it clear that no government can tell private universities what they should teach, whom they can enroll and hire, or which topics of study and research they can engage. This position follows the Trump administration sending a letter spelling out the requirements, which Harvard considered unreasonable and encroaching on its independence.
The freeze will hit Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health particularly hard, receiving 46% of its budget from federal funds for direct research expenses and facilities. Prominent tuberculosis researcher Sarah Fortune has been instructed to suspend her research under the freeze. Dean Andrea Baccarelli spoke out in concern, emphasizing the collaboration between Harvard and the federal government that has resulted in countless life-saving findings.
Research Areas Affected
Tuberculosis Research: Sarah Fortune's work has been halted because of the freeze on funding.
Cancer and Alzheimer's Research: The freeze risks cutting-edge research into fatal diseases.
Environmental and Occupational Health: Research on pollutants, hazards, and diet-related illness could be impacted.
The Trump administration's action is part of a broader effort to enforce compliance with anti-discrimination provisions in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Harvard has been accused of not sufficiently protecting Jewish students against antisemitic discrimination and harassment. Nevertheless, Harvard's President reiterated the university's commitment to combating antisemitism and enhancing intellectual diversity.
Harvard's Initiatives:
Fighting Antisemitism: Harvard has taken steps to counter antisemitism on campus during the last 15 months.
Intellectual Diversity: The school seeks to enhance perspectives and opinions.
Inclusion Efforts: Harvard Chan School is striving to create a pluralistic and inclusive culture.
This freeze on funding is not a singular event, as the Trump administration has hit dozens of schools, such as Columbia, Northwestern, the University of Michigan, and Tufts. The freeze can have long-term implications for research and innovation collaborations between universities, the federal government, and private industry. Traditionally, government-sponsored research has produced revolutionary discoveries, devices, and treatments that have defined the contemporary world ¹.