Harvard University has rejected the Trump administration’s demands to crack down on DEI hiring programs, student protests, and leftist ideologies, President Alan M. Garber announced in a message Monday afternoon. “The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” he wrote.

“Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration,” two attorneys representing the university added.

The administration responded Monday night by slashing $2.2 billion in federal funding for multiyear grants and research contracts —a fraction of the $9 billion “under review."

Gage Skidmore from Wikimedia Commons

The exchange marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and higher education. Of the six Ivy League universities targeted, Harvard is the only one to explicitly reject the demands. The Harvard Crimson reported that some affiliates said the move was “only fitting for the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university.”

Politicians Chime In

Harvard’s defiance rallied support from Democrats. Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on X, “Congratulations to Harvard for refusing to relinquish its constitutional rights to Trump’s authoritarianism.” But Rep. Elise Stefanik, a vocal critic of student protests, countered: “Harvard University has rightfully earned its place as the epitome of the moral and academic rot in higher education,” slamming the university’s stance.

Former President Barack Obama also weighed in Monday night on X: “Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions—rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom.”

Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey lauded the private university's open defiance. The '92 Harvard graduate said, "I join others around the country in extending congratulations and gratitude to Harvard University, President Garber and the Corporation for their leadership in standing up for education."

Joshua Qualls from Wikimedia Commons

Governor Healey added that "antisemitism has no place in America," but double-downed on how complying with the Trump administration's "dangerous" demands would make universities "less safe and less free."

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Trump's Demands

The Trump administration’s letter demanded the university dismantle its DEI hiring program, continuing the president’s long-standing opposition to “inclusive” policies. It also condemned Harvard for its “egregious record of antisemitism,” calling for an external audit of programs and departments “that most fuel antisemitic harassment.” Republican criticism of Ivy League institutions intensified after Hamas’s October 7 attack, culminating in congressional hearings that led to four Ivy League presidents resigning.

Gage Skidmore from Wikimedia Commons

The government also demanded “merit-based” admissions and pressured the university to defund “any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment.”

In his Monday message, President Garber said the funding cut would jeopardize Harvard’s research into “groundbreaking innovations” in “cancer, organ transplants, and heart disease.” He also emphasized that Harvard has taken steps to address antisemitism—and “plans to do much more.”

The federal antisemitism task force responded in a scathing release: “The disruption of learning that has plagued campuses in recent years is unacceptable. It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.”

Trump’s attack on Harvard’s funding is the most aggressive yet in his broader campaign against “leftist ideologies” and “rampant antisemitism” in higher education. The White House has recently frozen over $1 billion in funding for Cornell University and nearly $800 million for Northwestern. Experts and professors say these cuts are part of a strategy to pressure universities into aligning with the president’s political agenda.

Harvard Fights Back

As the Trump administration pressed Harvard, more than 500 affiliates gathered on campus to protest what they called “unlawful” federal overreach. Harvard’s AAUP chapter also filed a lawsuit following the $9 billion funding review announcement, arguing the government is acting unlawfully to silence student protests.

On Tuesday, Columbia University announced it was engaged in “good faith” negotiations with the Trump administration to preserve its funding. Still, interim president Claire Shipman affirmed the school’s resistance, saying Columbia would not capitulate to the administration’s sweeping demands.

Wm3214 from Wikimedia Commons

As tensions escalated, Trump took to social media, suggesting he may target Harvard’s tax-exempt status unless the university stops “pushing political, ideological, and terrorist-inspired/supporting ‘sickness.’” While nonprofit colleges are generally exempt from federal and state income taxes, experts note that Trump cannot unilaterally revoke a university’s tax status.

Conclusion

In the coming days, the full scale of Trump’s funding cuts will come into focus. Whether this is the first of many financial haymakers aimed at Harvard or a symbolic strike, one thing is clear: Monday marked the first time a university has openly defied the Trump administration’s demands. The $2.2 billion cut is just a slice of the $9 billion still in question—putting real pressure on Harvard as it navigates this minefield.

Harvard University's defiance could set a precedent for other top universities as Trump continues his clash.