U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Harvard University to apologize and has threatened to take away its tax-exempt status, which lets it avoid paying federal taxes. This happened after Harvard refused to follow some new demands from the Trump administration.
What Happened?
The Trump administration has recently criticized universities, especially those where pro-Palestinian student protests took place after the 2023 conflict between Hamas and Israel. Trump said these protests were anti-American and antisemitic, and claimed that universities are promoting left-wing and radical ideologies.
On Tuesday, Trump posted on social media saying he might end Harvard’s tax-exempt status because the school was spreading “terrorist-inspired” political ideas. He didn’t explain how he would do this.
According to U.S. tax law, schools like Harvard don’t pay income taxes because they serve public educational purposes.
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Government Action
Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Harvard should say sorry for what she called antisemitic incidents against Jewish students. She also accused Harvard and other schools of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on race or national origin if a school gets federal funds.
However, legal experts say that to stop federal funding under Title VI, a full investigation and legal process is needed. That hasn’t happened at Harvard or Columbia.
Harvard Responds
Harvard President Alan Garber said the Trump administration’s demands — such as an audit of political views and removing diversity programs — were illegal and violated free speech and academic freedom.
Later that same day, a Trump administration task force said it was freezing $2 billion in grants and contracts to Harvard. Harvard did not reply to questions about which grants were affected.
Columbia’s Case
Columbia University in New York had faced a similar situation. It agreed to talk with the Trump administration after $400 million in funding was cut, mostly from research areas like medicine.
Some Columbia professors have sued the Trump administration, saying these actions broke their rights. A judge has asked the government to respond by May 1.
Columbia’s interim president Claire Shipman said the school supports open discussions but won’t let the government control what it teaches or who it hires.
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Other Universities Speak Out
Several top universities have supported Harvard’s position.
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Princeton University said it “stands with Harvard.”
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Stanford University leaders said Harvard’s response represents the American value of liberty and that funding cuts would hurt the country’s research capabilities.
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A group of schools, including University of Illinois, have also sued the Department of Energy for cutting research funds in important fields like nuclear technology and cybersecurity.
Other Developments
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A judge in Washington blocked parts of a Trump executive order targeting a law firm.
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More students in the U.S. are now applying to Canadian universities because of Trump’s actions, like funding cuts and restrictions on foreign student visas.
Key Takeaways
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The Trump administration is taking tough steps against universities it believes promote leftist views or tolerate antisemitism.
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Harvard is refusing to comply with demands it believes break the law.
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Several top U.S. schools are standing with Harvard, defending academic freedom and free speech.
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Legal battles are unfolding between universities and the federal government.
