CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The battle between Harvard University and President Donald Trump is intensifying, just as seniors are getting ready to graduate.
Questions loom over whether international students will return next year and if the school will receive any funds from the federal government after the president announced yesterday to end all federal contracts with the school.
Harvard alum and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey says the Trump administrations attacks on the university aren’t about antisemitism—instead it’s because the school isn’t complying with the administrations demands.
“To me it’s simply a pretext for attacking anyone with whom the president or the administration has disagreement and we’ve seen that again with law firms, corporations, ordinary Americans, and now with colleges and universities,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.
“Every sovereign nation has a right to make sure that they know who is in their nation and if they are safe to be here and for the people who want to come to understand to come that there are expectations when you get you here so that we don’t have to take your visa and remove you,” said State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
But that’s not the only threat the school is facing. Just yesterday, the Trump administration announced it plans to cancel all remaining federal contracts with Harvard totaling around $100 million—a total cutoff of federal funds. Harvard University President Alan Garber was recently interviewed on NPR. While he agrees with the administration that Harvard needs to address the freedom of speech on campus, what is perplexing to him is how that relates to cutting off funding for research.
“They are paying to have that work done,” said Harvard University President Alan Garber. “Shutting off that work does not help the country even as it punishes Harvard. And it is hard to see the link between that and say antisemitism.”
In its lawsuit filed in federal court, Harvard said the potential ban would impact more than 7,000 visa holders. A federal hearing on the international student issue will be held tomorrow, the same day as Harvard’s commencement ceremonies.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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