Harvard University President Alan Garber is escalating his feud with the Trump administration amid its decision to halt federal funding to the university, calling it “unfounded retaliation,” according to Fox News. In a letter addressed to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday, Garber expressed concern over what he described as “federal overreach into the constitutional rights of private universities.”
Garber tried asserting that Harvard and the administration share some “common ground,” claiming that both are for combating antisemitism and promoting freedom of expression on campus.
“We share common ground on a number of critical issues, including the importance of ending antisemitism and other bigotry on campus,” Garber said. “Like you, I believe that Harvard must foster an academic environment that encourages freedom of thought and expression, and that we should embrace a multiplicity of viewpoints rather than focusing our attention on narrow orthodoxies.”
However, Garber argued that the federal government’s recent actions threaten these principles he claims are valued at the university. He insisted that Harvard remains in compliance with the law and is implementing reforms in consultation with stakeholders. “Harvard will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear of unfounded retaliation by the federal government,” he stated.
The letter was written in response to Secretary McMahon’s announcement that Harvard would lose eligibility for federal grants due to its poor handling of antisemitism on campus. McMahon criticized the university for what she described as repeated violations of federal law, questioning Harvard’s use of taxpayer funds and transparency regarding student admissions.
“Receiving such taxpayer funds is a privilege, not a right,” McMahon wrote. “Yet instead of using these funds to advance the education of its students, Harvard is engaging in a systemic pattern of violating federal law. Where do many of these ‘students’ come from, who are they, how do they get into Harvard, or even into our country – and why is there so much HATE?”
“These are questions that must be answered, among many more, but the biggest question of all is, why will Harvard not give straightforward answers to the American public?” she added.
The Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard and has threatened to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status, according to Fox News.
In his letter, Garber outlined steps Harvard has taken to address campus issues, such as appointing new deans and clarifying disciplinary procedures. He also rejected claims that Harvard is a partisan institution, stressing that the university is not aligned with any political party.
“Harvard is a place to bring people of all backgrounds together to learn in an inclusive environment where ideas flourish regardless of whether they are deemed ‘conservative,’ ‘liberal,’ or something else, a place where assumptions and claims are tested and challenged, respectfully and thoughtfully, in pursuit of knowledge and truth,” he wrote.
