US President Donald Trump on Tuesday charged at Harvard University again threatening it taking away its "tax exempt status" for "pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting 'Sickness?'".
This follows the Trump administration's decision to freeze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts due to the university’s refusal to adhere to newly issued federal directives.
"Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting “Sickness?” Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!" he said in a post on Truth Social.
Former US President Barack Obama reacted to the funding freeze saying, "Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope other institutions follow suit."
Why was funding frozen?
The funding freeze was enforced after Harvard refused to comply with an April 3 directive that called for the dismantling of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, revisions to its hiring and admissions practices, and cooperation with immigration screenings for international students.
"The administration’s prescription goes beyond the power of the federal government. It violates Harvard’s First Amendment rights and exceeds the statutory limits of the government’s authority under Title VI. And it threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge. No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," the university said.
"Harvard remains open to dialogue about what the university has done, and is planning to do, to improve the experience of every member of its community. But Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration," it said in its letter to the administration.
The Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which halted the funding, said that these steps were essential to uphold civil rights and ensure responsible use of taxpayer money by academic institutions.
This follows the Trump administration's decision to freeze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts due to the university’s refusal to adhere to newly issued federal directives.
"Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting “Sickness?” Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!" he said in a post on Truth Social.
Former US President Barack Obama reacted to the funding freeze saying, "Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope other institutions follow suit."
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and… https://t.co/gAu9UUqgjF
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2025
Why was funding frozen?
The funding freeze was enforced after Harvard refused to comply with an April 3 directive that called for the dismantling of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, revisions to its hiring and admissions practices, and cooperation with immigration screenings for international students.
"The administration’s prescription goes beyond the power of the federal government. It violates Harvard’s First Amendment rights and exceeds the statutory limits of the government’s authority under Title VI. And it threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge. No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," the university said.
"Harvard remains open to dialogue about what the university has done, and is planning to do, to improve the experience of every member of its community. But Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration," it said in its letter to the administration.
The Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which halted the funding, said that these steps were essential to uphold civil rights and ensure responsible use of taxpayer money by academic institutions.
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