With $9 billion on the line, Harvard tells Trump to back off
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- Harvard has rejected the Trump administration's demands to change myriad policies.
- The decision sets up a major showdown with the president.
- The administration has sought to exercise greater control of affairs at several elite universities.
Harvard University on Monday said it is rejecting a series of demands made by President Donald Trump's administration to change its policies or risk losing its federal funding.
"No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," university president Alan M. Garber wrote in a letter.
Harvard's position sets itself up for a major showdown with Trump, who has demanded that the university cut its diversity, equity and inclusion programs and make changes to certain programs that his administration feels has fueled "antisemitic harassment."
"Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration," lawyers for Harvard wrote in a letter to administration officials.
The Trump administration announced last month that it was reviewing approximately $9 billion in federal grants and contracts given to Harvard as part of its investigation into how institutions have tackled antisemitism.