Harvard’s president underscored the institution’s “long and productive relationship with the federal government” on Monday in a letter responding to demands made last week by President Donald Trump’s administration.Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon wrote in a 3-page letter on May 5 that the school has “made a mockery of the country’s higher education system.” Her department said Harvard will receive no new federal grants until it “demonstrates responsible management of the university,” and adopts reforms.McMahon demanded, “a return to merit-based admissions and hiring, an end of unlawful programs that promote crude identity stereotypes, disciplinary reform and consistent accountability, including for student groups, cooperation with Law Enforcement, and reporting compliance with the Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, and other Federal Agencies.” The administration previously froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, and Trump is pushing to strip the school of its tax-exempt status. Harvard responded with a lawsuit in a clash that is being watched closely across higher education. Harvard President Alan Garber wrote back on Monday with a 3-page letter of his own. He addressed it to McMahon. Video below: Ultimatum issued to Harvard”Like you, I believe that Harvard must foster an academic environment that encourages freedom of thought and expression, and that we should embrace a multiplicity of viewpoints rather than focusing our attention on narrow orthodoxies. I also believe that Harvard cannot achieve these objectives if open debate undertaken in good faith is unwelcome,” Garber wrote. In the second paragraph, Garber’s letter begins to address the Trump administration’s actions, accusing the government of “overreach into the constitutional freedoms of private universities.” He accuses the government of ignoring the steps Harvard has taken and states that their lawsuit is meant to fight the administration’s “unlawful” attempt to exert control over the university. “Harvard will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear of unfounded retaliation by the federal government,” Garber wrote. Garber’s letter lists changes in leadership and policy made since he took over. He also points out the release of internal task force reports about bias on campus in the wake of the war between Israel and Hamas.Garber directly rejects McMahon’s claim of political partisanship of the institution and argues that both hiring and admission are based on merit and achievements. He specifically notes that international students “are vital members of our community,” and states they are held to the same standards as students from the United States. Finally, Garber seeks to remind McMahon about the history and potential benefits of funding research at Harvard. “Research universities, including Harvard, have had a long and productive relationship with the federal government. That relationship has driven economic growth, innovation, and life-saving discoveries to the benefit of our nation and all humanity. We hope that the partnership between higher education and the federal government will be vibrant and successful for generations to come,” Garber wrote. Video below: Trump threatens Harvard’s tax-exempt status
Harvard’s president underscored the institution’s “long and productive relationship with the federal government” on Monday in a letter responding to demands made last week by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon wrote in a 3-page letter on May 5 that the school has “made a mockery of the country’s higher education system.” Her department said Harvard will receive no new federal grants until it “demonstrates responsible management of the university,” and adopts reforms.
McMahon demanded, “a return to merit-based admissions and hiring, an end of unlawful programs that promote crude identity stereotypes, disciplinary reform and consistent accountability, including for student groups, cooperation with Law Enforcement, and reporting compliance with the Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, and other Federal Agencies.”
The administration previously froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, and Trump is pushing to strip the school of its tax-exempt status. Harvard responded with a lawsuit in a clash that is being watched closely across higher education.
Harvard President Alan Garber wrote back on Monday with a 3-page letter of his own. He addressed it to McMahon.
Video below: Ultimatum issued to Harvard
“Like you, I believe that Harvard must foster an academic environment that encourages freedom of thought and expression, and that we should embrace a multiplicity of viewpoints rather than focusing our attention on narrow orthodoxies. I also believe that Harvard cannot achieve these objectives if open debate undertaken in good faith is unwelcome,” Garber wrote.
In the second paragraph, Garber’s letter begins to address the Trump administration’s actions, accusing the government of “overreach into the constitutional freedoms of private universities.” He accuses the government of ignoring the steps Harvard has taken and states that their lawsuit is meant to fight the administration’s “unlawful” attempt to exert control over the university.
“Harvard will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear of unfounded retaliation by the federal government,” Garber wrote.
Garber’s letter lists changes in leadership and policy made since he took over. He also points out the release of internal task force reports about bias on campus in the wake of the war between Israel and Hamas.
Garber directly rejects McMahon’s claim of political partisanship of the institution and argues that both hiring and admission are based on merit and achievements. He specifically notes that international students “are vital members of our community,” and states they are held to the same standards as students from the United States.
Finally, Garber seeks to remind McMahon about the history and potential benefits of funding research at Harvard.
“Research universities, including Harvard, have had a long and productive relationship with the federal government. That relationship has driven economic growth, innovation, and life-saving discoveries to the benefit of our nation and all humanity. We hope that the partnership between higher education and the federal government will be vibrant and successful for generations to come,” Garber wrote.
Video below: Trump threatens Harvard’s tax-exempt status