U.S. Freezes $2.2 Billion in Federal Funding to Harvard Over Policy Dispute

Harvard University is facing a freeze of $2.2 billion in federal funding from the Trump administration following its refusal to comply with extensive demands related to governance, diversity programs, and civil rights enforcement. The U.S. Department of Education's action was prompted by Harvard's rejection of these demands, which included dismantling diversity offices and cooperating with immigration authorities. Harvard President Alan Garber publicly defended the university's independence, stating that it will not negotiate its constitutional rights. The administration's demands have been framed as part of a broader effort to combat rising antisemitism on college campuses, amidst escalating tensions due to recent protests over Israel's actions in Gaza. Critics, including university officials, argue that the government's actions threaten academic freedom and are an overreach of authority. The situation has raised alarms about the implications for free speech and institutional autonomy at universities across the nation.