WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) – United States President Donald Trump said on Monday night that his administration is seeking $1 billion from Harvard University to end federal investigations into the institution’s policies, with the two parties yet to reach a final agreement despite months of negotiations.
The Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funds from Harvard and several other universities over issues including pro-Palestinian protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, campus diversity and transgender policies.
Trump claimed that Harvard and other universities allowed demonstrations of anti-Semitism during pro-Palestinian protests.
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“We are now seeking $1 billion in compensation and we want nothing to do with Harvard University in the future,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, without specifying how he arrived at that amount or exactly what compensation he was referring to.
Trump’s post was in response to a New York Times report, citing sources, saying that the Trump administration had dropped its demand for money from Harvard in ongoing negotiations to reach a deal. Trump denied the information.
Trump administration officials and Harvard have been involved in negotiations for months. Trump said in September that a deal was close and would involve a $500 million payment from Harvard.
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Harvard University, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The government has closed its investigations with some universities. Harvard sued the Trump administration last year and a judge later ruled that the administration had illegally canceled some research grants to the university.
Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly equates criticism of Israel’s attack on Gaza and its occupation of the Palestinian territories with anti-Semitism, and the defense of Palestinian rights with support for extremism.
(Reporteramem by Rishab Near Rishab in Shivani hands Bengalru in Singh em Washington)
