Facing pressure from the Trump administration, which threatened to revoke $9 billion in federal grants unless Harvard complied with several demands, Harvard refused to capitulate. The administration's demands included screening international applicants for 'hostility to American values' and external audits for viewpoint diversity. Harvard's legal team stated that no private university should submit to federal control, suggesting a new trend of universities prioritizing autonomy over federal funding, especially in light of Columbia's past acquiescence that resulted in substantial consequences.
"Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government," the university's lawyers wrote in a letter to administration officials.
When the Trump administration cancelled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia, it outlined a set of far-reaching changes as a precondition for getting the funding back.
Columbia swiftly acquiesced to the demands, with only minor changes, highlighting the devastating impact of federal funding leverage on educational institutions.
Harvard has decided that some things are more important than money, prioritizing academic integrity over federal demands.
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