Barack Obama praised Harvard University for refusing White House demands to change its policies or lose federal funding. He called the freeze of more than $2 billion "unlawful" and encouraged other schools to follow Harvard's example. This marks his first social media criticism of the Trump administration since at least January. Obama graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991 and rarely criticizes government officials online.
Trump stopped the money because Harvard wouldn't modify its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices, which his team claimed would fight campus antisemitism. Yale University faculty published a letter backing Harvard's decision against these demands. Many American universities receive federal funding mainly for scientific research, including drug development projects.
Stanford University had to halt hiring and reduce budgets as federal funds decreased under Trump. Harvard President Alan Garber stated that no government should dictate what private universities teach, admit, or study. Massachusetts Institute of Technology also rejected the administration's requirements after Harvard's announcement.
Trump responded Tuesday by threatening to remove Harvard's tax-exempt status. Universities, charities, and religious groups typically don't pay federal income taxes. This benefit can be removed if organizations engage in political activities or stray from their stated purposes.
Trump stopped the money because Harvard wouldn't modify its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices, which his team claimed would fight campus antisemitism. Yale University faculty published a letter backing Harvard's decision against these demands. Many American universities receive federal funding mainly for scientific research, including drug development projects.
Stanford University had to halt hiring and reduce budgets as federal funds decreased under Trump. Harvard President Alan Garber stated that no government should dictate what private universities teach, admit, or study. Massachusetts Institute of Technology also rejected the administration's requirements after Harvard's announcement.
Trump responded Tuesday by threatening to remove Harvard's tax-exempt status. Universities, charities, and religious groups typically don't pay federal income taxes. This benefit can be removed if organizations engage in political activities or stray from their stated purposes.
