Trump vs. Harvard: Billions Frozen, Freedoms Tested

During his administrative campaign President Donald Trump has selected Harvard University as his main target by implementing both a federal research funds blockage worth $2 billion and he advocated for removing its tax exemption. The White House issued demands to combat campus anti-Semitism that Harvard University rejected and this led to the executive order. Trump demanded Harvard to demonstrate “public interest” activities before repealing its tax exemption benefits based on his criticism of political viewpoint cultivation at the university that he labeled “political” and “ideological” alongside “terrorist-inspired” views. Harvard University made a strong rebuttal when its $53 billion endowment fund involved President Alan Garber declaring that the institution would defend both academic independence and its First Amendment freedom.

"Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating anti-Semitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the 'intellectual conditions' at Harvard," he said.

Harvard professors filed a legal challenge to the government after they alleged the government was violating academic freedom by its actions. The Department of Education launched this investigation as part of a wider Trump administration initiative against America's most prestigious universities due to Gaza war protests and U.S. backing of Israel.

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and other Republican leaders challenged for the elimination of all public financial support to Harvard University and similar institutions. The arrests of Mohsen Mahdawi from Harvard together with Mahmoud Khalil from Columbia and Rumeysa Ozturk from Tufts as a result of their protest activities have heightened the ongoing controversy. According to the White House the institution of these restrictions aims to safeguard Jewish college students. The critics see this move as political manipulation which aims to disable campus dissent while extending state power into college institutions.