Zim Now Writer
The Trump administration has intensified its pressure campaign on Harvard University, threatening to revoke the institution’s ability to enroll foreign students and freezing over US$2 billion in federal funding.
The move comes amid ongoing tensions over pro-Palestinian protests on campus that the administration has labeled antisemitic.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, announced that Harvard must submit records by April 30 on what the administration calls “illegal and violent activities” involving foreign students on campus. Failure to comply, Noem warned, will result in Harvard losing its privilege to host international students.
In addition, DHS terminated two grants worth US$2.7 million and confirmed the freezing of more than US$2.3 billion in federal funding. The Internal Revenue Service is also reportedly reviewing the university's tax-exempt status, with a final decision pending.
Harvard has rejected the Trump administration’s demands, asserting that it will not surrender its institutional independence or constitutional rights. A university spokesperson confirmed receipt of the DHS letter and reiterated Harvard’s intention to follow the law while upholding academic freedom.
Earlier this week, the university rejected several federal conditions that would, in its view, hand over control of internal policies to the government—such as banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and mandating dress codes like a mask ban.
This standoff is rooted in nationwide pro-Palestinian demonstrations at U.S. universities following Israel’s military response to the deadly October 2023 Hamas attack. Trump has portrayed the protests as antisemitic and linked to pro-Hamas sympathies, an allegation protestors and civil rights groups vehemently deny. Many protestors, including Jewish student groups, argue their actions support Palestinian human rights and critique Israel’s conduct in Gaza—not Jews or Judaism.
Harvard is not alone. The Trump administration has frozen or canceled federal funding to several elite universities, including Columbia, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, and Northwestern. Officials have cited a range of reasons, from antisemitism allegations to ideological opposition to DEI programs and transgender-inclusive policies.
The administration has also begun revoking visas of foreign students linked to protests and is pursuing deportations in some cases.
Human rights advocates have raised alarms about the implications of the administration’s moves, calling them a dangerous assault on free expression and academic autonomy. They argue that the crackdown may stifle dissent, erode university independence, and fuel Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment.
Despite the threats, Harvard insists it remains committed to fighting all forms of hate while preserving the right to protest.
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