Trump adminration demands foreign funding records from Harvard | World News
The Trump adminration has asked Harvard University to hand over records of foreign funding and overseas ties going back ten years, in what Reuters describes as the latest move in a growing crackdown on top American universities.
The request follows US President Donald Trump’s recent threats to cut off federal money to universities over various issues, including support for pro-Palestinian protests, diversity policies, and transgender rights. Rights groups and legal experts have criticised the adminration’s actions, calling them an attack on free speech and academic freedom.
In a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, the US Department of Education accused the university of filing “incomplete and inaccurate” reports about foreign donations between 2014 and 2019. “Today’s records request is the Trump adminration’s first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated , or doing the bidding of, foreign entities,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon, according to Reuters. However, the letter did not offer evidence that this was actually happening.
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Harvard responded saying it has followed all legal reporting rules for many years. “As is required, Harvard’s reports include information on gifts and contracts from foreign sources exceeding $250K annually,” a university spokesperson said, as quoted Reuters. “This includes contracts to provide executive education, other training, and academic publications.”
The Trump adminration is also demanding records about expelled foreign students, the research they were involved in, and a l of visiting researchers and staff connected to foreign governments.
According to Reuters, the government recently started reviewing $9 billion in federal grants and contracts to Harvard. It has also proposed harsh restrictions, including banning masks on campus and eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. On top of that, it has threatened to remove Harvard’s tax-exempt status and its ability to accept foreign students, and has frozen $2.3 billion in funding after Harvard rejected several government demands earlier this week.
Trump has targeted universities in response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the US, sparked Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza after a deadly Hamas attack in October 2023. He accuses protesters of being antisemitic and supportive of Hamas.Story continues below this ad
Many students, including Jewish protesters, say they are peacefully standing up for Palestinian rights and criticising Israeli actions in Gaza not promoting hatred or extremism. “The Trump adminration wrongly conflates their advocacy with support for extremism and antisemitism,” Reuters reports.
In addition, the Trump adminration has reportedly begun deporting some foreign protesters and has revoked hundreds of student visas. Other top universities, including Columbia, Princeton, Brown, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, and Northwestern, have also seen funding frozen or withdrawn.
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