WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is escalating its battle with Harvard University by pushing federal agencies to cancel about $100 million worth of contracts with the Ivy League powerhouse, a senior official revealed Tuesday. This move adds to an already significant crackdown on the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university.

So far, the federal government has slashed more than $2.6 billion in research grants to Harvard, which has resisted the administration’s demands to change its leadership, governance, and admissions policies. Now, a draft letter from the General Services Administration (GSA) instructs agencies to review their contracts with Harvard and seek alternative vendors. The letter was expected to be sent out Tuesday.

The New York Times first uncovered this letter, which reflects growing tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard.

What’s at Stake? Contracts Under Review Include Executive Training and Research

The administration has identified roughly 30 contracts across nine federal agencies that could be canceled. These contracts, totaling around $100 million, cover a range of services — from executive training for Department of Homeland Security officials to graduate student research and even health studies linked to energy drinks.

For contracts deemed critical, agencies have been told not to halt work immediately but to prepare plans to switch to vendors other than Harvard.

Importantly, this directive targets federal contracts only, not the remaining research grants still awarded to Harvard.

Trump’s Broader Assault: Threatening Billions in Cuts and Targeting International Students

Over the weekend, President Trump ramped up his attack on Harvard via social media, threatening to cut an additional $3 billion in federal grants and redirect that funding to trade schools nationwide. However, he did not specify which grants would be affected or how the money would be reallocated.

Trump also criticized Harvard for allegedly refusing to release the names of its foreign students. He argued that their home countries contribute nothing to their education costs and claimed some of these countries “are not at all friendly to the United States.”

In reality, international students don’t qualify for federal financial aid, but Harvard provides its own scholarships and aid to all students, both domestic and foreign.

“We are still waiting for the Foreign Student Lists from Harvard so that we can determine, after a ridiculous expenditure of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, how many radicalized lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country,” Trump wrote on social media.

What exactly he’s demanding remains unclear, especially since the government already has access to visa and other records for foreign students across U.S. universities.

Foreign Student Records and Legal Pushback

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has demanded that Harvard hand over extensive records on its foreign students, including disciplinary files and any information related to “dangerous or violent activity.” Harvard says it complied, but DHS deemed the response insufficient and moved to revoke Harvard’s permission to enroll international students.

Harvard sued to block this move, and a federal judge in Boston temporarily halted the DHS action.

Global Reactions: Japan Steps In to Support Affected Students

Internationally, the situation is drawing concern. Japan’s government announced plans to support Harvard’s international students affected by these sanctions. Education Minister Toshiko Abe said she will ask Japanese universities to prepare measures to help those students.

The University of Tokyo, Japan’s most prestigious institution, is reportedly considering temporarily accepting some Harvard students caught in the crossfire.

This latest escalation highlights the deepening rift between Harvard and the Trump administration, with wide-ranging consequences for the university’s funding, its international students, and its role in federal research and education programs.

Source: AP News – Trump administration moves to cut $100 million in federal contracts for Harvard

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The Trump administration has taken a dramatic step in its ongoing conflict with higher education institutions, revoking Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The move, announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), could reshape the university’s academic landscape and significantly impact thousands of students from around the world.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening, what it means for the Harvard community, and what remains uncertain.

What Just Happened?

The Department of Homeland Security terminated Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows U.S. institutions to host international students on F-1 and J-1 visas. Without this certification, Harvard is legally barred from enrolling any new or existing international students under these visa programs.

This decision follows a high-profile standoff between Harvard and the Trump administration, which froze $2.2 billion in federal funding last month. The freeze came after Harvard refused to comply with demands to overhaul its international student program, becoming one of the first elite universities to push back against the administration’s education policies.

Harvard has strongly condemned the DHS decision, calling it “unlawful” and pledging swift action to support affected students.

Why This Matters: The Impact on Harvard’s International Community

International students are a vital part of Harvard’s academic fabric. In the 2024–2025 academic year alone, the university enrolled 6,793 international students—nearly 27% of its student body. Including visiting scholars and researchers, the international academic community at Harvard totals nearly 10,000 individuals from more than 140 countries.

Losing SEVP certification means these students must either transfer to another certified university or risk falling out of legal immigration status.

“We are committed to maintaining our ability to host our international students and scholars… who enrich the University and this nation,” Harvard stated in response.

What Happens to Current Students?

According to a letter from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Harvard may not enroll any international students on F-1 or J-1 visas for the upcoming academic year. Students already enrolled must transfer to another SEVP-certified institution to retain their legal status in the U.S.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requires all SEVP-certified schools to track key information about international students, such as their address and academic status. If a school loses certification, affected students typically have a short window to transfer or leave the country.

ICE has also emphasized strict compliance, warning that it will sanction schools that fail to meet their obligations.

Academic and Financial Fallout

The repercussions could be far-reaching for Harvard and beyond. Faculty members are expressing alarm over the potential academic consequences. Some warn that labs and research programs could be hollowed out without international scholars.

“Many labs will empty out,” one professor told CNN.

Jason Furman, a Harvard economist and former advisor to President Obama, didn’t mince words:

“It is impossible to imagine Harvard without our amazing international students. They are a huge benefit to everyone here, to innovation, and to the United States more broadly.”

The policy could also hurt Harvard financially. International students often pay full tuition since they’re typically ineligible for federal aid—an important revenue source. In April, DHS Secretary Noem argued that Harvard “relies heavily on foreign student funding … to build and maintain their substantial endowment.”

University spokesperson Jason Newton warned that the action would inflict “serious harm” on the Harvard community and compromise the school’s educational mission.

What’s Next?

Harvard has vowed to challenge the decision and provide urgent support to its international students. But for now, many questions remain about how quickly the university can respond—and whether the policy will withstand legal scrutiny.

As one of the world’s leading academic institutions finds itself at the center of a political battle, the consequences could ripple across the entire landscape of American higher education.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly attributed a quote about Harvard’s reliance on foreign student funding. It was made by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in April.

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