Donald Trump’s presidency fulfilled the threat and withdrew federal funding from Harvard University hours after the oldest and most rich North American university refuses to accept a list of government demands.
Administration froze $ 2.2 billion (1.94 billion euros) from multi -annual subsidies to Harvard, following the recommendation of a working group of the Department of Education to combat anti -Semitism.
The decision followed a message from Harvard University President Alan Garber, in which guarantee that would not “renounce its independence or their constitutional rights ”.
The Department of Education’s working group considered that the Harvard declaration “reinforces the worrying mentality of law that is endemic in the universities and the most prestigious faculties of our nation – that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to defend civil rights laws“.
The Trump administration announced last month that it was examining up to $ 9 billion (7.94 billion euros) in federal subsidies and contracts for Harvard as part of its efforts to combat anti -Semitism in the US university campuses.
The university emerged as one of the main targets of the White House while the administration sought to obtain similar appointments in the main colleges of the country, which were agitated by Pro-Palestinos Student Protests in the scope of war in Gaza.
Harvard considers Trump government demands “unacceptable”
Harvard had previously signaled that he would work to combat anti -Semitism on his campus, and took action to restrict disciplinary procedures and remove some teachers, but Garber made it clear that those new government demands were unacceptable.
The president of the prestigious university revealed on the website of the institution that the administration had required expanded conditionswhich exceeded the previous requirements in exchange for the maintenance of federal financing.
These new conditions included the reform of the institution’s governance, the end of diversity, equity and inclusion programschanges to admissions and hiring, and reduction of the “power” of certain studentsteachers and administrators due to the respective ideological opinions.
“This makes it clear that the intention is not to work with us to combat anti -Semitism in a cooperative and constructive way,” wrote Garber.
“Although some of the government’s demands outlined have as its objective anti -Semitism, most direct government regulation of ‘intellectual conditions’ In Harvard, ”he added.
Columbia University agreed with Trump’s requirements
In February, the Trump administration created a ‘Task Force’ with the inclusion of several agencies to “Eradicate anti -Semitism”.
The requirements made to Harvard were more severe than those placed at Columbia University.
After announcing the freezing of $ 400 million in federal financing to the university, Columbia agreed to prohibit the use of the veilexpand the Police powers on campus and appoint a senior vice-rector to supervise the Middle East Studies Department, southern Asia and Africa.
“Neither Harvard nor any other private university can be allowed to be controlled by the federal government“Harvard University lawyers wrote in a letter sent to the Department of Education.
