Overview

• The Trump administration announced on April 14, 2025, the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard University after the institution rejected demands to alter its policies.
• Key federal demands included the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and an audit of faculty and student opinions, which Harvard deemed unconstitutional.
• Harvard asserts that the demands violate the First Amendment and infringe on its academic independence, with university president Alan Garber reaffirming its commitment to constitutional rights.
• The funding freeze represents 11% of Harvard's annual revenue, posing a significant financial challenge to the university.
• This action is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting elite universities, with similar measures previously taken against Columbia University.