Overview

• The Trump administration has issued a list of demands to Harvard University, threatening nearly $9 billion in federal funding if the university does not comply.
• Key demands include banning face masks, eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and adopting merit-based admissions and hiring policies.
• Federal agencies accuse Harvard of failing to protect students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment, citing recent campus protests and incidents.
• Harvard has acknowledged the demands and pledged to provide a full accounting, as faculty and alumni debate whether to comply or resist through legal action.
• Critics argue the administration's actions undermine academic freedom and autonomy, with some demands aligning with broader political priorities unrelated to antisemitism.