In a dramatic escalation of tensions between the federal government and Harvard University, U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced that his administration will revoke the institution’s tax-exempt status. The move comes after Harvard defied sweeping reform demands, including limitations on campus activism and changes to its governance policies.
“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s tax-exempt status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Federal Funding Frozen Over Non-Compliance
This declaration follows the administration’s decision earlier this month to freeze over $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts allocated to Harvard. The freeze was triggered by the university’s refusal to implement changes mandated by the Trump administration.
The proposed reforms included overhauls to admissions processes, an internal review of diversity practices, and the derecognition of certain student organizations. Harvard firmly rejected the conditions, with University President Alan Garber stating, “We will not surrender our independence or relinquish our constitutional rights.”
Investigations Into Harvard and Its Law Review
On April 29, federal officials also launched investigations into Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review following reports alleging that race-based discrimination had infiltrated the operations of the journal.
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Campus Protests Under Scrutiny
Harvard has recently drawn political attention amid a wave of pro-Palestinian protests on campuses following last year’s Gaza conflict. Republican leaders have increasingly targeted Ivy League institutions, accusing them of failing to address antisemitism. Harvard is now the fifth Ivy League university to face suspended federal funding, alongside the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton.
Trump’s Sharp Criticism of Harvard
Labeling the university as a “disgrace,” Trump previously accused Harvard of misusing its tax privileges. The administration’s latest move is seen as part of a broader effort to exert control over elite academic institutions perceived as opposing its policies.
