The administration of United States President Donald Trump has reportedly directed federal agencies to review and potentially terminate Harvard’s federal contracts, valued at about $100 million.
This development comes following an escalating feud between Trump’s administration and Harvard.
The latest action was unveiled after a draft letter from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) got leaked.
The draft letter was purportedly signed by Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the GSA, the leader of the agency responsible for procuring US government goods and services.
In the draft letter the GSA instructed agencies to identify and cancel or redirect Harvard’s federal contracts to alternative vendors.
The draft letter cited alleged antisemitism, liberalism, and discriminatory practices, as justification for the review of Harvard’s federal contracts.
Contracts set to be affected by the proposed directive include a $39,000 deal for graduate student research, a $50,000 National Institutes of Health study on coffee consumption, and a $523,000 research project on energy drinks.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that this is the latest development amid tension that has been escalating between Harvard and Trump’s administration.
Recall that Trump’s administration had accused Harvard of allegedly fostering antisemitism, liberalism, and discriminatory practices, including allegations of racial bias in the Harvard Law Review’s article selection and editor appointment processes.
Also, the development comes after Trump’s administration had earlier frozen $2.65 billion in research grants and attempted to revoke Harvard’s ability to enrol international students, a move temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
Recall also that Trump who took to his official social media accounts on Monday, vowed to ensure his administration wins against Harvard.
“I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land,” Trump said.
However, Harvard has pushed back, filing lawsuits against the administration, arguing that these actions violate First Amendment rights and constitute retaliation for the university’s refusal to comply with what it calls “illegal” policy demands.
Harvard’s President Alan Garber emphasized the broader implications, warning that cuts to federal funding could harm public-interest research and undermine U.S. leadership in science and technology.
