Harvard rejects Trump administration demands amid threats of funding cuts

Harvard University will “not accept” demands made by President Donald Trump’s administration amid threats of funding cuts, according to a statement issued Monday.

“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” read a post on the university’s X account published Monday. “Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.”

In an email sent to the Harvard community, President Alan M. Garber said the university received “an updated and expanded list of demands” from the Trump administration, warning them to comply if they’d like to “maintain financial relationship with the federal government.”

The demands, which the administration says are aimed at addressing antisemitism on campus, including restricting acceptance of any international students who are “hostile to the American values and institutions.” The administration also aims to audit programs offered at the school “that most fuel antisemitic harassment or reflect ideological capture.”

Garber called the demands “unprecedented,” adding that it is an attempt by the federal government “to control the Harvard community.” The university informed Trump’s administration through legal counsel that it will not accept the terms.

“It makes clear that the intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism in a cooperative and constructive manner,” Garber said. “Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard.”