The administration of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, said Friday that he sought the records of Harvard University on foreign funds and in some foreign ties that date back to a decade, in the last climbing of the government against the educational institution.
The Trump administration has launched a widely condemned repression against the best American universities, including Harvard, on pro-palestinian campus protests and a variety of other problems such as transgender rights and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Trump has threatened to retain federal funds from these institutions on the issues. Rights’ defenders have condemned what they call an assault on freedom of expression and academic freedom.
US law requires that universities denounce donations from foreign sources that exceed $ 250,000 in a year.
In a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, the United States Department of Education said Harvard made “incomplete and inaccurate” revelations between 2014 and 2019.
“The application for today’s records is the first step of the Trump administration to ensure that Harvard is not being manipulated or making the tender of foreign entities,” said the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, in a statement. The letter did not quote evidence to prove that it was happening.
Harvard said he has submitted such reports for decades “as part of its continuous compliance with the law.”
“As required, Harvard reports include information on gifts and contracts from foreign sources that exceed $ 250,000 per year. This includes contracts to provide executive education, other training and academic publications,” said the University.
Among the information also requested by the letter within 30 days were records related to expelled foreign students who date back to almost a decade, an investigation carried out by those who were expelled and a list of visiting researchers, students and teachers of Harvard who are affiliated with foreign governments.
Recent Trump Actions
In recent weeks and days, the Trump administration began a review of $ 9 billion in federal contracts and subsidies to Harvard; He asked for restrictions that include a prohibition of masks and the elimination of Dei; He threatened to strip Harvard from his tax exempt; and demanded information about some visas holders in Harvard with the threat of eliminating their ability to register foreign students.
Harvard on Monday rejected numerous demands that said they would give control to the government. The Trump administration said it was freezing $ 2.3 billion in funds.
Trump has particularly threatened universities about the protests of the Campus against the devastating Israel military campaign in Gaza after a deadly attack of 2023 by Hamas.
Trump chooses protesters as foreign policy threats that are anti -Semitic and sympathize with Hamas. The protesters, including some Jewish groups, say that the Trump administration erroneously combines its defense of the Palestinian rights and criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza with support for extremism and anti -Semitism.
The Trump administration is also trying to deport some foreign protesters and has revoked hundreds of visas throughout the country.
The Trump administration has frozen or canceled some funds for universities such as Columbia, Princeton, Brown, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell and Northwestern as well.
