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Trump Escalates Pressure on Harvard with Tax Exemption Threats

Following a $2.2 billion federal funding freeze, the Trump administration intensifies its confrontation with Harvard over diversity programs and campus autonomy.

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États-Unis: l'université Harvard «n'abdiquera pas son indépendance» face aux menaces de l'administration Trump
Les étudiants sont assis sur le campus de l’Université Harvard à Cambridge, Massachusetts, États-Unis, le 15 avril 2025.

Overview

  • The Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard after the university refused demands to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and conduct opinion audits.
  • President Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, accusing the institution of fostering antisemitism and ideological extremism.
  • Harvard President Alan Garber reaffirmed the university's commitment to its constitutional rights and rejected federal demands as violations of the First Amendment.
  • The administration's actions are part of a broader campaign targeting elite universities, with Columbia University previously losing $400 million in federal funding before implementing reforms.
  • This escalating conflict highlights tensions over academic freedom, federal influence, and ideological battles on U.S. campuses, particularly in the context of protests related to the Gaza conflict.