BOSTON, MA – The Trump administration is set to make significant cuts in federal grants and contracts for health research to Harvard University, totaling $3.2 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter. This move follows Harvard’s rejection of the revised demands put forth by the White House, resulting in the freezing of federal funding.
It has been reported that the Trump administration viewed Harvard’s decision to make the demands public as a breach of the negotiation process. The release of the demands has prompted a more aggressive stance from the White House towards Harvard’s funding.
The initial demands issued on April 3 lacked specifics on the changes required for Harvard to maintain its federal funding. A second set of demands was sent on April 11, including new requirements such as reporting international students to federal agencies for misconduct violations.
The federal antisemitism task force had anticipated Harvard’s compliance with the demands from the initial set. The White House had recently confirmed that the Friday demands, which were reported as being sent without approval, remained valid.
As this situation continues to develop, Harvard has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the planned funding cuts. The implications of these actions on the future of health research and academic collaborations remain uncertain.
This latest development underscores the ongoing challenges faced by universities in navigating federal funding dynamics amidst changing political climates. The impact of these decisions on research initiatives and partnerships will likely reverberate across academic institutions.