Trump vs Harvard is a Battle Over US College Education

M A Hossain, 

In a dramatic escalation of tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard University, the federal government has frozen $2.3 billion in funding and issued sweeping ultimatums that threaten the institution’s independence and future. The confrontation, which began on April 15, 2025, when Harvard publicly refused to comply with a set of federal demands, has now become a symbolic struggle over academic freedom, constitutional limits, and the politicization of higher education.

At the heart of the conflict are demands from the Trump administration for Harvard to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, submit to federal oversight of admissions and hiring, and provide disciplinary records of foreign students. The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, warned that failure to meet these conditions by April,30 could cost Harvard its ability to host international students—nearly a third of its student body. Further threats include revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, intensifying a pressure campaign already amplified by the president’s public denunciations.

Harvard President Alan Garber has stood firm, denouncing the government’s demands as unconstitutional and vowing not to “surrender independence or relinquish constitutional rights.” In a widely shared response, Garber framed the administration’s actions as an attempt to “control the Harvard community” and a direct violation of the university’s First Amendment protections. Lawsuits have since been filed by Harvard faculty and the American Association of University Professors, asserting that the funding cuts are politically motivated and violate academic liberties.

The impact of the freeze is already being felt. Harvard’s School of Public Health and Medical School have begun implementing layoffs and halting critical research projects, including those on ALS. With much of its $53 billion endowment legally restricted, the university is considering borrowing up to $750 million to mitigate the immediate financial crisis.

The clash has galvanized support from across the academic and political spectrum. Former President Barack Obama praised Harvard’s resistance as a stand for “intellectual inquiry and mutual respect.” Presidents of institutions such as Columbia, Stanford, and Princeton have echoed Harvard’s stance, warning against government overreach and defending academic autonomy.

Yet, the administration remains undeterred. Trump, doubling down on social media, labeled Harvard a “joke” and demanded an apology. The situation now represents more than a funding dispute—it is a defining moment for the future of private education in the United States.

This article published at :

1. South China Morning Post, HK: 22 April, 25