🎓 University Rejects White House Demands, Cites Constitutional Rights
Etawah/International Desk – In a high-stakes standoff between one of America’s top universities and the U.S. government, the Trump administration has frozen approximately $2.3 billion in federal funds to Harvard University. The move came after the university refused to comply with sweeping policy demands from the White House, which included shutting down diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and limiting activism on campus.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the funding freeze includes $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in federal contracts previously allocated to Harvard.
In a letter sent to Harvard on Friday, the administration outlined 10 categories of proposed changes necessary for the university to continue receiving federal support. These proposals included reducing influence of students and untenured faculty, reporting students deemed “hostile” to American values, and reforming governance and admissions policies.
🛑 Harvard Pushes Back
Harvard University swiftly responded to the letter. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the university wrote:
“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
Harvard President Alan Garber doubled down on that position, stating in a letter to the Harvard community that the White House’s demands “violate the university’s First Amendment rights” and “exceed the statutory limits of the government’s authority under Title VI.”
🗣️ White House: It’s About Civil Rights
The White House, however, claimed the policy changes were aimed at combating rising antisemitism on campus. The Education Department’s Task Force on Antisemitism accused Harvard of harboring an “entitlement mindset” that ignores civil rights laws despite being a major recipient of federal funding.
A task force spokesperson said:
“Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges.”
This standoff raises fundamental questions about the balance between academic freedom and federal oversight, especially as it relates to civil rights, campus protests, and government funding.
📍 What’s Next?
As of now, Harvard remains firm in its stance. The Biden administration has yet to respond officially to the development, and legal experts suggest this case could end up in federal courts over constitutional protections vs. government funding authority.
