Trump Threatens Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status Over Demands

President Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status following its refusal to comply with federal demands addressing campus activism and antisemitism, leading to a $2.2 billion freeze in federal grants. The Trump administration's demands included reforms on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, merit-based admissions, and disciplinary actions against antisemitic protests. Harvard, supported by figures like former President Obama, insists these demands violate its constitutional rights and academic freedom. The funding freeze impacts numerous research projects, such as a significant tuberculosis study, raising concerns about the broader implications for scientific research and academic independence. The administration's actions have sparked a debate on the balance between federal oversight and educational autonomy, with Harvard standing firm against what it perceives as unlawful federal intervention. This standoff is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting several Ivy League schools over similar issues.