Harvard Faces $450 Million Grant Cut as Clash With Trump Administration Intensifies

In a rapidly intensifying conflict, the Trump administration has slashed another $450 million in federal grants to Harvard University, just a day after the institution pushed back against accusations of fostering liberalism and antisemitism, The Hindu reported.

The move follows a letter sent on Tuesday (May 13) by a federal antisemitism task force, stating that grants from eight federal agencies will be withdrawn.

This comes in addition to the $2.2 billion in funding already frozen by the administration.

The letter claimed Harvard has become a “breeding ground for virtue signalling and discrimination” and added that the university faces a “steep, uphill battle” to restore its reputation for academic excellence.

“There is a dark problem on Harvard's campus, and by prioritizing appeasement over accountability, institutional leaders have forfeited the school's claim to taxpayer support,” the letter stated.

It was signed by officials from the Education Department, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration.

In response, Harvard filed an updated legal challenge on Tuesday, expanding on its April lawsuit, which sought to block the initial $2.2 billion freeze.

The university is seeking to overturn the broader set of sanctions now imposed.

Harvard became the first US university to openly defy federal directives aimed at curbing pro-Palestinian activism and ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, moves that have drawn sharp retaliation from the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism, calling for Harvard to lose its tax-exempt status.

The Department of Homeland Security has also warned it may revoke the university’s ability to host international students.

These actions are part of a wider campaign targeting elite universities.

Federal funding has already been cut off from institutions such as Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University for similar reasons.