HU Reacts: Trump Threatens Harvard With Federal Funding Freeze

By: Nadia Commodore

Harvard University, the oldest university in America known for its prestigious standing, is being threatened by the US government with a ban on admitting international students, according to BBC. 

This came as a shock, given that international students currently make up 27% of Harvard’s student body. BBC reported that the threat came shortly after The White House strongly advised the university to alter its hiring and teaching practices to “help fight antisemitism on campus.” 

Harvard President Alan Garber refused to comply in a statement from the university, stating, “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights." 

  In response to Harvard’s refusal, the Trump administration put a financial freeze on the university’s federal funding. The freeze means Harvard could lose $2.2 billion in government funds. Trump has also threatened Harvard with the loss of its tax-exempt status, which could cost the university an additional millions of dollars a year. According to CNN, many public and private organizations have been tax-exempt due to their status as non-profit organizations. BBC said the IRS is already putting plans in motion to enact the removal. 

BBC also stated that Harvard expressed that there is “no legal basis” to deny the university’s tax-exemption status and that “such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission.”

Malikah Herring, an HU first year nursing major, has some concerns about how Hampton University could be impacted. She stated that though HU isn’t actively under fire, “if the government can target a PWI, they are definitely coming after HBCU’s next.” 

“My concern,” she continued, “is about how we as HBCU’s are going to keep getting the opportunities that we need if the government targets us.”

Though the threat could be very perilous for the future of Harvard University, CNN reported that the IRS should be protected from politics and should not operate based solely on orders from the President. 

CNN stated that, “If the IRS did find that its tax-exempt status should be revoked, Harvard would need to be warned and given an opportunity to contest the finding. It would also have the opportunity to challenge the IRS in court.”

Jamiya Atkinson, also a first-year nursing student at HU, expressed confusion with the government’s decision, stating if the Trump administration moves forward with pulling Harvard's funding.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Atkinson posed questions many Americans have, but cannot find answers to. 

“Who’s going to pay? Where is the federal funding going?”