McMahon Cuts Harvard Funding Over Antisemitism Claims

The U.S. Department of Education informed Harvard University on Monday that it would halt billions of dollars in federal research grants and other aid unless the school complies with a series of demands from the Trump administration—a move critics say amounts to an unprecedented government takeover of the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university.

In a sharply worded letter, Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Harvard President Dr. Alan Garber that the university "should no longer seek grants from the federal government, since none will be provided." The letter, also posted on social media, accused Harvard of "a systematic pattern of violating federal law" and failing to meet its legal obligations.

Crackdown Follows Campus Protests, Antisemitism Dispute

The funding freeze stems largely from Harvard’s refusal to adopt recommendations from the Trump administration’s antisemitism task force, formed after pro-Palestinian protests erupted on U.S. campuses in response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks.

Last month, Harvard sued the federal government after officials froze 2.2 billion in funding, threatened to withhold an additional 1 billion in grants, and launched multiple investigations into the university’s operations. The administration also warned it could revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and impose restrictions on international students.

In a statement to the Harvard community, Garber called the government’s demands "sweeping and intrusive," warning they would impose "unprecedented and improper control" over the university. Harvard’s lawsuit argues that cutting federal funding would harm patients, students, faculty, and researchers by disrupting critical medical and scientific projects.

McMahon’s Letter Echoes Trump’s Rhetoric

"Harvard University has made a mockery of this country’s higher education system," McMahon wrote, alleging the school admitted foreign students who engage in "violent behavior" and show "contempt for the United States."

The letter also veered into broader grievances, criticizing Harvard’s diversity initiatives, its alleged discrimination against white authors in the Harvard Law Review, and even a remedial math course introduced after the COVID-19 pandemic. McMahon singled out Penny Pritzker, a Harvard board member and former Obama administration official, as well as two former mayors—Bill de Blasio and Lori Lightfoot—who were briefly hired as fellows. She called them "perhaps the worst mayors ever to preside over major cities in our country’s history."

Harvard Vows to Fight "Government Overreach"

Harvard has defended its handling of campus tensions, releasing reports examining both antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias. The university maintains that the Trump administration’s actions threaten academic freedom.

In a statement Monday, Harvard said the latest letter "doubles down on demands that would impose unprecedented and improper control" over the institution. It pledged to "continue to defend against illegal government overreach aimed at stifling research and innovation."

With a $53 billion endowment—the largest of any U.S. university—Harvard could sustain operations without federal funds, which accounted for 10.5% of its 2023 revenue. However, the loss of grants would still deal a significant blow to its research programs.

The Trump administration has taken similar action against other elite schools, including Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell, demanding strict adherence to its policies on antisemitism and campus governance.