Trump Administration Launches Multi-Agency Investigations, Cuts Funding at Harvard University

The Trump administration has taken significant actions against Harvard University, including blocking it from enrolling international students and revoking its certification to host them, citing concerns over an "unsafe campus environment" and alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This move forces existing international students to transfer or lose legal status, deeply unsettling the university community and prompting fears of a broader crackdown. Former Treasury Secretary and Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers condemned the ban as illegal, unwise, and damaging, calling it "the stuff of tyranny" and warning that it undermines both the US economy and national security. Alongside this, the administration has launched a wide-ranging campaign involving multiple federal agencies that includes investigations into Harvard’s admissions, hiring, and alleged antisemitism, resulting in billions in funding cuts. Harvard has resisted these demands, leading to a political conflict that many view as an authoritarian attempt to reshape elite universities under the guise of combating discrimination and foreign influence. The international student community at Harvard, which constitutes about 27% of the student body, faces uncertainty and fear, with some considering transferring amid concerns about academic freedom and expression.