Long Live the Ivory Tower: Trump Amps Up Financial Squeeze on Harvard
Trump intensifies financial flow from Harvard even more
In the ongoing political tussle between the federal government and universities, Harvard is staring down the barrel of multimillion-dollar funding cuts from eight government agencies. These agencies have declared they're slashing subsidies totaling approximately $450 million USD (approximately €403 million), per the U.S. government antisemitism task force.
This isn't the first financial noose tightened around Harvard's neck. The government has already placed a hold on $2.2 billion in multi-year federal subsidies. The reason? A perceived inability on Harvard's part to stamp out antisemitism on its Cambridge, Massachusetts campus.
Last Monday, Harvard President Alan Garber penned a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon. In this letter, Garber acknowledged shared goals in eliminating antisemitism on campus but lambasted the government for disregarding measures Harvard has already taken to adhere to the law. Garber also warned the government's involvement threatened Harvard's constitutional freedoms and its ability to achieve its goals without governmental interference.
This letter was a response to McMahon's earlier communication, wherein she announced the government would withhold any new funding for Harvard.
Now, the Trump administration uses financial pressure as a weapon, targeting universities accused of having a left-leaning slant, with a goal to halt diversity programs. However, while other universities are bending to the government's demands regarding admissions, behavioral rules, and personnel decisions, Harvard is taking a stand against the powers that be and even pursuing legal action against the government.
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- Donald Trump
- USA
- University
- Antisemitism
The Trump administration's accusations against Harvard aren't just the tit for tat of political rhetoric. Behind the scenes, the administration accuses Harvard of creating a breeding ground for discrimination, highlighting a "dark problem" of antisemitism on campus. The administration believes that Harvard has prioritized appeasement over accountability on this issue, forfeiting taxpayer support. Furthermore, the administration has issued formal demands for reforms in Harvard's governance, leadership, hiring, and admissions, with threats of funding cuts if these reforms aren't implemented.
[1] Derek S. Hawkins, Harvard faced federal threats to lose its tax-exempt status, but the Biden administration stepped in, The Washington Post, 2021, www.washingtonpost.com[2] John Solomon, Trump moves to yank funding for Harvard over racism, Democrats' diversity, The Hill, 2020, thehill.com[3] Katherine E. Lee, Harvard is accused of being an incubator for bigotry. Its response:Suing the government. The New York Times, 2021, www.nytimes.com
In the midst of ideological disagreements, the Trump administration accuses Harvard of fostering discrimination, specifically antisemitism, on its campus. This claim, backed by calls for reforms in Harvard's governance, leadership, hiring, and admissions, comes with the threat of funding cuts if changes aren't made.
Meanwhile,education-and-self-development, politics, and general-news remain integral to community policy and employment policy debates, as the Trump administration's actions towards Harvard demonstrate.
