The Trump administration has intensified its scrutiny of Harvard University, seeking records on foreign funding and affiliations going back a decade, in what critics view as an escalating political campaign against American academic institutions.
In a letter addressed to Harvard President Alan Garber on Friday, the US Department of Education accused the prestigious university of filing "incomplete and inaccurate" disclosures between 2014 and 2019 concerning foreign contributions. Under federal law, American universities are required to report donations exceeding $250,000 from foreign sources in any given year.
The request is part of a broader move by the Trump administration to review Harvard’s financial and academic links with foreign entities, as tensions mount over recent pro-Palestinian campus protests and longstanding conservative criticism of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
"Today's records request is the Trump administration's first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by, or doing the bidding of, foreign entities," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. The administration, however, did not provide any evidence to support the allegations of foreign interference.
Harvard, in its response, defended its record, stating that it has consistently complied with reporting laws. "As is required, Harvard’s reports include information on gifts and contracts from foreign sources exceeding $250,000 annually. This includes contracts to provide executive education, other training, and academic publications,” the university said in a statement.
The Department of Education’s letter also requested details within 30 days on expelled foreign students, their research work, and a list of visiting researchers, students, and faculty affiliated with foreign governments.
Rising tensions and funding threats
The records demand comes amid a flurry of punitive measures recently introduced by the Trump administration. These include a review of $9 billion in federal contracts and grants linked to Harvard, proposed restrictions such as a campus mask ban and dismantling of DEI programs, and threats to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status. The administration has also frozen $2.3 billion in federal funding to the university following Harvard’s refusal to comply with what it termed “unreasonable demands.”
One of the key flashpoints remains pro-Palestinian demonstrations across campuses, including Harvard, in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza following a deadly October 2023 attack by Hamas. Former President Trump has branded the protests as extremist, alleging that they support antisemitism and Hamas-linked ideology. Many protesters — including Jewish student groups — have rejected these claims, insisting that their actions are aimed at upholding human rights and criticizing the Israeli government’s conduct in Gaza.
In a move that has drawn further criticism from civil rights advocates, the administration is reportedly seeking to deport some foreign students involved in the protests and has already revoked hundreds of visas.
Concerns over academic freedom
Legal experts and advocacy groups have condemned the administration's actions as an attack on academic independence and freedom of expression. “The government’s approach appears less about transparency and more about coercion,” said a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), warning that such policies risk setting a dangerous precedent.
The escalating standoff between the federal government and one of the country's leading academic institutions comes against the backdrop of a broader cultural and political battle over the direction of higher education in the United States.
As the 2024 election looms, analysts suggest that Trump’s aggressive stance toward universities may play into his campaign narrative, appealing to voters concerned with what they perceive as liberal bias on college campuses.
