June 10, 2026
The Trump administration has been threatening to withhold federal funds from Harvard
The White House sent a memo to nine elite US universities last week detailing policies they should follow to get preferential consideration for federal funding
The move marked the latest instance of the Republican administration attempting to undermine the financial stability and global standing of the oldest and wealthiest US university
The Trump administration is seeking to revoke Harvard's ability to enrol foreign students, accusing the campus of harbouring Beijing-backed influence operations
Harvard labels government action “unlawful” and pledges support for foreign students
It files an amended complaint just hours after a federal antisemitism task force announced that eight government agencies were cancelling more grants
The reports find Jewish and Muslim students on campus faced bigotry and abuse, with many feeling shunned by peers and teachers for their political beliefs
"This case involves the Government’s efforts to use the withholding of federal funding as leverage to gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard,” the lawsuit says
