Harvard faces new pressure in Trump administration talks

As negotiations between Harvard University and the Trump administration resume on Thursday, Stephen A. Schwarzman, the university's new negotiator, faces a complex challenge. The billionaire must navigate the administration’s growing demands on higher education, following a surprise announcement that the university was close to an agreement allowing continued federal research funding.

However, the next day, the administration sent letters to nine universities asking them to align with its political agenda to secure federal funds. Harvard officials are considering seeking further guarantees that once an agreement is reached, they won't face additional demands.

Harvard has expressed concerns about the administration’s track record of using investigations and funding cuts to push conservative policies, including stricter gender definitions and increased government access to admissions data. Some faculty and students fear that any agreement could be reneged upon or further demands could follow.

The talks, which stalled over the summer, are now being led by Schwarzman, a prominent figure with close ties to Trump. Both sides remain cautiously optimistic about finding common ground, though concerns about future demands linger.