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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BOSTON – Harvard University is taking the Trump administration to court after the federal government froze more than $2.2 billion in research funding, a move that Harvard says is political retaliation for refusing to comply with controversial campus reform demands.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Boston, comes after the Trump administration accused Harvard of fostering an environment of unchecked antisemitism following student-led protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict. In response, the administration issued an April 11 ultimatum, pushing for sweeping changes—from admissions policy revisions to stricter protest discipline and a re-evaluation of diversity efforts.

Harvard President Alan Garber refused to comply, citing constitutional protections and academic freedom. Hours later, the administration froze billions in federal research grants, affecting projects that span medical, technological, and scientific innovation.

“There’s no rational link between these antisemitism accusations and the life-saving research they’re targeting,” Harvard argued in its lawsuit. “This is arbitrary, capricious, and a threat to America’s innovation pipeline.”

The Trump administration’s hardline stance aims to shake up what it sees as liberal-dominated academia. Harvard, a longtime symbol of elite education, has now become the test case for federal efforts to force universities to toe a new ideological line—or lose funding.

The White House fired back quickly.

“The gravy train of taxpayer-funded handouts to elite institutions like Harvard is over,” said White House spokesman Harrison Fields. “Federal support is a privilege, not an entitlement.”

The administration also called on Harvard to audit its community for ideological diversity, crack down on protests, stop recognizing certain student groups, and vet international students for alignment with “American values.”

Harvard’s leadership and supporters argue that the administration’s demands violate the First Amendment and overstep the government’s authority. In a message to the university community, Garber said the lawsuit is about more than one school—it’s about protecting the independence of American higher education.

“We stand for the truth that universities can fulfill their roles in society without improper government intrusion,” Garber wrote.

The university’s legal push is also backed by major academic organizations. The American Council on Education, which represents over 1,600 colleges and universities, applauded the lawsuit, calling the freeze “a clear violation of due process and rule of law.”

This case adds to mounting tensions between the Trump administration and academic institutions, particularly those that resist its policies on immigration, free speech, and cultural debates. The administration has increasingly used federal funding—especially research grants—as leverage.

The American Association of University Professors has also filed its own suit, seeking to block the government’s review of Harvard’s funding. Harvard alumna Anurima Bhargava praised the university’s stance, calling it a “refusal to give in to escalating, dangerous demands.”

“This is a reckless attempt at control that puts lifesaving research in jeopardy,” Bhargava said.

Source: AP News – Harvard sues Trump administration to stop the freeze of more than $2 billion in grants

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The Trump administration has escalated its confrontation with Harvard University, threatening to ban the institution from enrolling foreign students. This warning follows Harvard’s refusal to comply with demands from the White House to overhaul its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices in an effort to combat antisemitism on campus.

At the heart of the dispute is the White House’s push for significant changes at the university, including tighter controls over foreign student visa-holders. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has called for Harvard to provide detailed records on what she described as the “illegal and violent” actions of foreign students. In response, Harvard has insisted that it will not compromise its independence or the constitutional rights that protect its academic freedom.

Harvard President Alan Garber made a bold statement on Monday, affirming that the university would not surrender its intellectual autonomy. “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” Garber wrote in a message to the Harvard community.

The Trump administration’s new request, sent by Noem, warns that if Harvard does not comply with the demand for records, it could lose the “privilege of enrolling foreign students.” This is a serious threat, as international students make up more than 27% of Harvard’s enrollment this year. In addition, the university faces a freeze on approximately $2.2 billion in federal funding, a significant financial blow.

The situation worsened when President Trump suggested that Harvard could also lose its valuable tax-exempt status. Reports indicate that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is considering plans to strip Harvard of this status, which could cost the institution millions in lost revenue annually.

Trump has been vocal about his discontent with Harvard, calling the university “a joke” on his Truth Social platform. “Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges,” Trump declared. He further criticized the university, accusing it of teaching “hate and stupidity” and calling for an end to federal funding.

Harvard’s defiance is part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration challenging higher education institutions. The government’s antisemitism task force has flagged at least 60 universities for review, further escalating tensions between the White House and academic institutions.

During his campaign, Trump made it clear that he viewed many universities as hostile to conservative viewpoints, a sentiment shared by Vice President JD Vance. The administration’s critiques of universities intensified after pro-Palestinian protests occurred on campuses, leading some Jewish students to report feeling unsafe and harassed.

Harvard is not the only university under scrutiny. In March, Columbia University capitulated to several of the administration’s demands after the Trump administration withheld $400 million in federal funding over accusations that the university had failed to adequately address antisemitism. Columbia agreed to replace the head of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department and pledged to review its admissions process for bias.

Harvard, too, has made some concessions, including dismissing the leaders of its Center for Middle Eastern Studies after they were criticized for not sufficiently representing Israeli perspectives. However, the university has drawn a firm line at the recent list of demands from the White House.

As the situation continues to unfold, the question remains: How long can Harvard maintain its stance against the Trump administration’s pressure? With billions of dollars in federal funding at stake, Harvard’s ability to uphold its independence while facing these unprecedented challenges will be closely watched by universities across the nation.

The clash between the Trump administration and Harvard is part of a broader cultural and political battle over the role of higher education in shaping public discourse. The outcome of this dispute could have lasting implications for the future of academic freedom and the relationship between universities and the federal government.

Source: BBC – Trump administration threatens Harvard with foreign student ban

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