Trump Administration Freezes $2.2 Billion in Harvard Funding Amid Policy Dispute
Washington (The Uttam Hindu): The Donald Trump administration in the US has taken a tough step against the country's prestigious Harvard University and has stopped federal funding of $ 2.2 billion (about Rs 18,300 crore in Indian rupees) with immediate effect. This tough attitude of the administration has come after Harvard refused to accept the strict conditions imposed to deal with the growing anti-Semitic atmosphere on the campus.
According to reports, the White House had demanded the Harvard University management to make major changes in its governance, appointments to important posts, and admission process. Along with this, the administration had also instructed the university to close the units related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and to fully cooperate with the Immigration Authorities in the screening process of international students.
Harvard refuses to accept the terms
Harvard University's interim president Alan Garber has outright rejected these demands of the Trump administration. In a letter sent to students and faculty members, he made it clear that the university will not compromise on its "autonomy and constitutional rights" at any cost and these orders of the government will not be accepted.
Following this stance of Harvard, the 'Joint Antisemitism Monitoring Task Force' formed by the Trump administration took immediate action and announced a ban on grants worth $2.2 billion and other government contracts worth $60 million (about Rs 500 crores).
“Harvard’s response reflects a deeply ingrained misconception among the nation’s top universities that they want American taxpayer money but do not want any accountability,” the task force said in its official statement.
It is worth noting that Donald Trump has been in the news for his aggressive decisions and statements even during his first term. His tariff related decisions had caused concern at the global level. He has earlier also warned a channel to face consequences for making fun of him on a TV show. Now his target is Harvard University, one of the most prestigious educational institutions of America. This incident has sparked a new debate between academic freedom and government control.
