US freezes future grants to Harvard University

The US Department of Education on Monday told Harvard University that it is freezing billions of dollars in future research grants and other aid until the institution concedes to several demands from the Donald Trump administration, Reuters reported.

In a letter, US Education Department Secretary Linda McMahon told Harvard University that it must address concerns about antisemitism on campus and school policies that considered a student’s race.

She added that the university had to also address complaints from the Trump administration that it had abandoned its pursuit of “academic excellence” while employing relatively few conservative faculty members.

“This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided,” Reuters quoted McMahon as saying.

In response, Harvard University said that the letter doubled down on demands that would impose “unprecedented and improper control” over it and made new threats to “illegally” withhold funding for lifesaving research.

“Harvard will also continue to defend against illegal government overreach aimed at stifling research and innovation that make Americans safer and more secure,” the news agency quoted a university spokesperson as saying.

In April, the Trump administration froze more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University after the institution said it would defy demands...

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