Trump Administration Threatens Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status Amid Funding Freeze

President Donald Trump has escalated his confrontation with Harvard University by threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status and freezing over $2.2 billion in federal grants after the university refused to implement sweeping policy changes demanded by his administration. The Trump administration's demands include changes to campus activism policies, admissions, and faculty authority, under the justification of combating perceived ideological and antisemitic activities. Harvard has openly defied these orders, asserting its constitutional rights and institutional independence, with President Alan Garber stating the university would not negotiate over its autonomy. The administration's approach has been described as an unprecedented attempt to leverage federal funding to impose political control over private universities, particularly targeting diversity initiatives and academic freedom. This standoff follows similar actions taken against other Ivy League institutions and has sparked concerns about governmental overreach into higher education. Critics argue that Trump's tactics threaten the traditional autonomy and global leadership of American universities.