The Trump administration bars Harvard from future research grants over anti-semitism claims and lax academic standards

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the Trump administration has announced that Harvard University will no longer receive federal funding for research. The move, revealed in a scathing letter from US Education Department Secretary Linda McMahon on May 5, 2025, is a direct response to ongoing disputes over the university’s handling of anti-Semitism on campus.

McMahon, in her letter, accused Harvard of making a “mockery” of higher education. She stated that the university would no longer be eligible for public funding and should instead rely on its substantial endowment and wealthy alumni base. “Harvard will cease to be a publicly funded institution,” McMahon wrote, suggesting the university should now operate as a privately funded entity.

This latest development follows the Trump administration’s freeze of nearly $2.3 billion in federal funding to Harvard last month. The freeze came after the university rejected demands from the administration to address what it called rampant anti-Semitism on campus. Harvard had also opposed the government’s request for external audits to ensure “viewpoint diversity” among faculty and students, a demand that the university deemed an undue infringement on academic freedom.

McMahon’s letter also included a series of allegations often voiced by conservative critics of Harvard. These accusations included lax academic standards and the admission of foreign students accused of “violent behaviour” and displaying “contempt toward the United States.” Her rhetoric mirrored that of President Trump, using capital letters to emphasise certain words: “Where do many of these ‘students’ come from, who are they, and how do they get into Harvard, or even into our country – and why is there so much HATE?” she wrote.

In response, Harvard strongly condemned the Trump administration’s actions. A university spokesperson argued that McMahon’s demands posed a serious threat to academic freedom, saying the letter “makes new threats to illegally withhold funding for lifesaving research and innovation.” Harvard vowed to continue complying with the law, promoting respect for diverse viewpoints, and tackling anti-Semitism within the community.

The university is also currently fighting the funding freeze in court, asserting that it is being penalised for its legal actions and refusal to comply with what it views as unconstitutional government overreach. “Harvard will continue to defend against illegal government overreach aimed at stifling research and innovation that make Americans safer and more secure,” the spokesperson added.

The controversy over anti-Semitism on US college campuses has been simmering since widespread student protests erupted last year over Israel’s war in Gaza. Two recent reports from Harvard’s internal task forces revealed that both Jewish and Muslim students had experienced bias on campus, with President Alan Garber acknowledging the issues and promising to take stronger actions to foster a more inclusive environment.

Conservatives, including Trump, have long criticised universities like Harvard for what they see as the promotion of left-wing ideologies, which they argue suppress conservative and right-wing viewpoints. This ongoing clash between the Trump administration and elite universities seems set to continue, as both sides dig in their heels over their contrasting visions for academic freedom and the role of government in education.