WASHINGTON (AP) – On Tuesday, the Trump administration urged federal agencies to terminate contracts totaling approximately $100 million with Harvard University, the president’s clash with the oldest and most affluent university in the U.S.
The government has already revoked over $2.6 billion in federal research grants to Ivy League institutions, due to the government’s demands for several policy modifications.
A letter issued Tuesday by the General Services Bureau, which manages federal contracts and real estate, instructed agencies engaging with the university to explore alternative options.
The New York Times was the first to report on this letter.
President Donald Trump has openly criticized Harvard, labeling it a hub of liberalism and anti-Semitism. He filed a lawsuit on April 21, demanding reforms in the university’s leadership, governance, and admissions policies. Since then, federal funding for colleges has been notably curtailed, leading to a clampdown on International Student Registration and threats to revoke its tax-exempt status.
The contracts cover scientific research and executive training
According to administrative officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the administration has identified about 30 contracts across nine agencies currently under review for cancellation, totaling roughly $100 million. These contracts include executive training for Department of Homeland Security officials, research on health outcomes linked to energy drinks, and services for graduate student research.
Agencies with contracts deemed essential are directed to develop plans to transition to vendors other than Harvard, rather than immediately halting these agreements.
This directive pertains solely to federal contracts with Harvard and does not affect existing research grants.
Trump threatens to reallocate Harvard funds to trade schools
Over the weekend, Trump took to social media, suggesting the potential for an additional $3 billion reduction in federal grants to Harvard, threatening to redirect these funds to trade schools nationwide. He did not clarify which specific grants he was referencing or how the reallocation would occur.
The president also accused Harvard of withholding the names of its international students. In his latest remarks, he contended that the countries of these students incurred no educational costs and that some were “not friendly” toward the United States.
Running in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 down the Charles River, near Harvard University (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
International students do not qualify for federal financial aid; however, Harvard provides its own financial support to both domestic and international students.
“We’re still waiting for Harvard’s list of international students, so after billions wasted, we can identify how many radical troublemakers should not return to our nation,” Trump stated on social media.
It remains unclear what the president was referencing, as the federal government has access to Visa information and other records concerning foreign students at Harvard and other universities.
The Department of Homeland Security has requested that Harvard University submit a range of documents related to international students, including disciplinary records and those related to “dangerous or violent activities.”
Harvard asserts that it has complied; however, the agency claims it did not find the response satisfactory and is moving to revoke the university’s ability to register foreign students. A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the enforcement following a lawsuit from Harvard University.
Harvard rallies against the Trump administration
Officials from the Trump administration claim that some international students at Harvard have been promoting anti-Semitism on campus. However, Jacob Miller, the former president of Harvard Hillel, insisted that the ban on international students is “not related to the fight against anti-Semitism.” Miller graduated this week, focusing on mathematics and economics.
“Anti-Semitism is a significant issue, not only for Harvard but for our country as a whole,” Miller stated during a rally in Harvard Yard. “These policies do nothing to combat this age-old hatred; instead, they aim to divide us. The Jewish community rejects this administration’s narrative.”
Earlier this month, Harvard President Alan Gerber stated that the university has implemented governance changes over the past year and a half, which involve various strategies to address anti-Semitism. He emphasized that Harvard would not compromise its “legally protected principles” out of fear of backlash.
International students at Harvard are awaiting further judicial decisions to determine if they can register for summer or fall classes. Some are considering contingency plans.
The government ban does not pertain to students who graduated this week, such as Gemmarieu, a Chinese student of landscape architecture at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.
“I hope the situation improves,” she commented on Tuesday. “We need to see what unfolds next, but we cherish the opportunity to graduate tomorrow.”
Swedish alum Leo Gelden described the current situation for international students as “just limbo.”
International responses
The Japanese government announced on Tuesday that it is exploring ways to assist foreign students at Harvard. Prime Minister Abe and the Minister of Education plan to encourage Japanese universities to devise support strategies for international students.
The University of Tokyo, Japan’s premier institution, is considering temporarily admitting Harvard students affected by Trump’s sanctions.
Other countries are taking similar actions, including two universities in Hong Kong that have recently broadened their invites to Harvard students.
On Harvard’s campus, law student Carson Durdel expressed pride in the university for resisting Trump’s policies, asserting that the institution’s intellectual independence has historically strengthened the U.S.
“This is why we shine as a beacon in other corners of the world,” he noted. “I believe that undermining these values is not only shortsighted but poses a serious long-term risk.”
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Mariyama Maguchi, an Associated Press reporter based in Tokyo, contributed to this article.
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Source: apnews.com