Trump Plans Freeze on Billions in Harvard Grants

President Donald Trump has threatened to halt future federal grants to Harvard University, citing the institution's refusal to comply with his administration's demands related to hiring, administration, and speech regulation. The Trump administration has frozen over $5 billion in university grants nationwide and specifically sent a letter to Harvard demanding an end to all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, disclosure of admissions and hiring data, and reforms to ensure greater 'viewpoint diversity.' Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the funding freeze is arbitrary, violates First Amendment rights, and infringes on statutory protections. Amid mounting pressure and the threat of losing federal funding, Harvard announced changes to its DEI office, including renaming it and discontinuing affinity group celebrations at commencement. These developments come in the context of broader federal investigations into alleged discrimination and campus unrest following protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The confrontation between Harvard and the Trump administration highlights a larger effort by the White House to reshape university policies that it claims promote liberalism and discrimination.