The federal government has pushed large universities like Columbia and Brown to change their policies and reform their schools in order to continue receiving federal funding. A letter obtained by the Washington Examiner listed several demands for the university to meet.
“It is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that all recipients are responsible stewards of taxpayer funds,” said the letter signed by Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service Josh Gruenbaum, acting general counsel at the Health and Human Services Department Sean R. Keveney, and acting general counsel at the Education Department Thomas E. Wheeler.
“Harvard University, however, has fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment in addition to other alleged violations of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This letter outlines immediate next steps that we regard as necessary for Harvard University’s continued financial relationship with the United States government,” it added.
The letter then lists out nine demands for Harvard to meet, which include reviewing and making changes to departments that “fuel antisemitism;” enforcing its disciplinary policies and enacting a mask ban; holding student groups accountable; potential leadership changes “to empower faculty and administrative leaders who are committed to implementing the changes indicated in this letter;” ending merit-based admissions and hiring; shuttering diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; and cooperating with law enforcement and other federal agencies.
The letter was addressed to Harvard President Dr. Alan M. Garber and Lead Member of the Harvard Corporation Penny Pritzker, the sister of Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL). It demands “immediate cooperation in implementing these critical reforms.”
“We expect your immediate cooperation in implementing these critical reforms that will enable
Harvard to return to its original mission of providing a high-quality education in a safe environment
for all students through a focus on truth-seeking, innovative research, and academic excellence,” it concludes.
If Harvard doesn’t follow through, it could see funding revoked, like Columbia, which had $400 million in federal grants and contracts revoked. The Trump administration said it would consider restoring the funding now that the university has committed to demands outlined by the administration.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
However, there were indications that Garber had already started moving to prevent the university from being financially hollowed out. He fired leaders at the university’s center for middle eastern studies and distanced Harvard from a university in the West Bank.
The White House targeted the university for a review of $9 billion in federal funding on Monday.
