U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status after the institution rejected his administration’s demands to change its academic programs.
Trump’s threat came after Harvard refused to comply with requests to overhaul policies following student protests related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Trump’s administration has been critical of several universities, including Columbia University, accusing them of supporting pro-Palestinian protests that erupted after the 2023 Hamas-led attacks in Israel. The protests led to ongoing tensions on campuses, with Trump labeling the movement as anti-American and antisemitic.
He also criticized universities for promoting what he called “radical left” ideologies and vowed to cut federal funding from schools that do not adhere to his administration’s demands.
In a social media post, Trump suggested that Harvard could lose its tax-exempt status if it continues promoting what he described as “political, ideological, and terrorist-inspired” views. U.S. tax law generally exempts universities from federal income taxes, provided they operate exclusively for educational purposes. However, Trump’s comments raised questions about how this tax status might be affected.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump wants Harvard to apologize for what she described as antisemitism directed at Jewish American students on the campus. Leavitt further accused Harvard and other universities of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin for institutions receiving federal funding.
Under Title VI, the process for cutting federal funding is complex and requires a thorough investigation. This includes hearings and a 30-day notice to Congress, neither of which have been initiated for Columbia or Harvard yet.
Some university professors and students argue that conflating the protests with antisemitism is an unjust attack on academic freedom. In response to the Trump administration’s actions, Columbia University began negotiating to tighten protest rules after the administration cut $400 million in grants, primarily for medical and scientific research.
Harvard President Alan Garber responded to Trump’s demands by calling them unprecedented and unconstitutional. He emphasized that Harvard has taken steps to address antisemitism and prejudice while upholding academic freedom and the right to protest. Garber criticized the Trump administration’s demands, particularly the call for audits on faculty and student diversity and the elimination of diversity programs.
Just hours after Garber’s letter, the Trump administration’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced it was freezing over $2 billion in contracts and grants to Harvard. The specific details of which grants and contracts were frozen have not been disclosed. Harvard declined to comment on the matter.
This ongoing conflict highlights the growing tension between political influence and academic freedom in U.S. universities.
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