Harvard Will Not Comply With a List of Trump Administration Demands

Harvard University announced on Monday that it had rejected policy changes requested by the Trump administration, making it the first university to directly refuse to comply with the administration’s demands. This decision has set the stage for a potential showdown between the federal government and the nation’s wealthiest university.

While other universities have pushed back against the Trump administration’s interference in higher education, Harvard’s response went a step further. The university essentially called the administration’s demands illegal, marking a significant shift in tone for the influential school, which has faced criticism for yielding to pressure from the Trump administration in recent weeks.

The Trump administration sent a letter to Harvard on Friday demanding various changes, including reducing the power of students and faculty members, reporting conduct violations by foreign students to federal authorities, and ensuring “viewpoint diversity” in academic departments. Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, stated, “No government should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study they can pursue.”

Since taking office, the Trump administration has targeted universities, claiming to investigate diversity efforts and alleged antisemitism on campus. Federal funds for research at universities have been suspended, with a focus on prominent schools like Harvard.

Harvard has faced pressure from its students and faculty to resist the administration’s encroachment on higher education. The administration has threatened to review federal contracts and grant commitments to the university, citing concerns about antisemitism on campus.

Last month, over 800 Harvard faculty members signed a letter urging the university to oppose the administration’s “anti-democratic attacks.”

In response to the administration’s demands, Harvard’s president emphasized the university’s independence and constitutional rights, stating that the university will not allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.

The government’s letter included drastic changes that would have infringed on the university’s principles, including sharing hiring and admissions data, shutting down diversity programs, and overhauling academic departments.

Harvard’s legal team stated that the demands exceeded the lawful authority of any administration, signaling the university’s firm stance against the proposed changes.

Stephanie Saul, Alan Blinder, and Miles Herszenhorn contributed to this report.