Harvard University said on Monday that he would not accept an agreement proposed by the Trump Administration for continuous federal financing, saying “The university will not deliver its independence or will give up its constitutional rights.”
On March 31, the administration he said He was reviewing about $ 9 billion in aid and contracts with the Ivy League Institution of Cambridge, Massachusetts “to ensure that the university complies with federal regulations, including its civil rights responsibilities.” The Department of Education is investigate Supposed anti -Semitic incidents on the university campuses and President Trump has threatened to get funding from universities that allow what they say they are “illegal protests“”
A letter Sent to Harvard on April 11, he exposed a series of conditions that Harvard needed to meet to maintain a “financial relationship” with the federal government. The demands included leadership reforms, an immediate unemployment of diversity, equity and inclusion policies, an audit of the “diversity of the point of view” between students and teachers, and “significant discipline” for students who violated school policies when a pro-palestine Tent encampment He climbed to the Harvard Garden.
In March, the Trump administration announced that it would be $ 400 million cancellation In aid and contracts at Columbia University, claiming that the school had “continued inaction to the persistent harassment of Jewish students”.
Harvard’s response to Trump Administration
Harvard President Alan Garber said that the school has taken several steps to address anti -Semitism and “we plan to do much more.” But he said that Harvard would not accept the proposed agreement to “go beyond the power of the federal government.”
“The university will not deliver its independence or will give up its constitutional rights,” Garber said in a statement.
Garber said that research with Federally funding in Harvard has made advances in the medical fields, engineering and scientist.
“For the Government to retire from these collaborations, it now risks not only the health and well -being of millions of people, but also the economic security and vitality of our nation,” he said.
Harvard said in March that it would be Contracting of freezingQuoting “substantial financial uncertainties promoted to quickly change federal policies”. The university said in 2024 that it received $ 686 million from the federal government, the largest source of research support.
Freezing –S $ 2.2 billion in grants
On Monday, the joint working group to combat anti -Semitism announced a freeze of $ 2.2 billion in multi -year aid and $ 60 million in multi -year contractual value at Harvard University.
“Harvard’s declaration today strengthens the worrying law mentality that is endemic to the most prestigious universities and colleges of our nation, that federal investment has no responsibility to defend civil rights laws,” the working group said in a statement.
“The interruption of learning that has affected the campuses in recent years is unacceptable. The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable. It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and are committed to changing significant if they want to continue to support taxpayers.”