Harvard University rejects Trump’s administrative demands, risking billions of funding

Harvard University refused to fulfill a series of demands from Trump’s administration, which has the potential to risk billions of federal funds.

In the Letter on MondayHarvard University President Alan Garber said the school “would not surrender its independence or release its constitutional rights” by agreeing to a series of requirements proposed by Trump’s administration.

Trump’s administration demanded that Harvard ended the diversity, equity and inclusion program, adopting achievement-based revenue and in collaboration with immigration authorities-or at risk of losing $ 9 billion in federal funding. Garber at that time said the loss of funds would “stop the research that saved life.”

Harvard’s rejection of Trump’s demands marked the first time the majority university has pushed back the threat of funding made by Trump’s administration.

In a letter on Friday, the Trump government argued that the school “failed to meet intellectual conditions and civil rights that justify federal investments” and propose requirements including changing school governance, adopting achievement-based recruitment, closing the Dei program and allowing “audits” to ensure “diversity of perspectives.”

In response, President Harvard said the school was committed to making changes to create a “friendly and supportive learning environment” and reaffirm the school oath to fight antisemitism. However, he believes Trump’s administrative request will run too far.

“Administrative recipes exceed the strength of the federal government. This violates Harvard’s first amendment and exceeds the legal limit of government authority under the title VI,” Garber wrote. “And that threatens our values ​​as private institutions aimed at pursuing, production, and the distribution of knowledge. There is no government – regardless of which party has the ruling – must determine what can be taught by private universities, which they can admit and rent, and which fields of study and investigation they can pursue.”

Confrontation follows similar actions against other prestigious universities. Last month, Columbia University agreed to meet administrative demands regarding campus and government policies after the federal funds were suspended after the campus protest. The agreement occurred after the government quoted concerns about antisemitism and public safety.

The Ministry of Education has also begun investigations to Cornell University and Northwestern University, according to White House officials. Trump’s government has stopped more than $ 1 billion in federal funds for Cornell and $ 790 million to Northwestern due to an investigation of alleged violations of civil rights.

ABC News’ Selina Wang contributed to this report.