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By Jesus Mesa
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President Donald Trump has threatened to take away $3 billion in federal grants from Harvard University and redirect the money to trade schools, escalating a months-long battle with the Ivy League institution.
"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 posted Monday on his social media platform, Truth Social. "What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!"
Newsweek reached out to Harvard for comment on Monday.
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Why It Matters
The move is the latest in a series of attacks by Trump and his administration against Harvard. Last week, the government barred the university from enrolling foreign students and previously froze more than $2.2 billion in federal grant money and $60 million in contracts.
Officials accused Harvard of ignoring demands to clamp down on student protests, overhaul diversity and governance policies, and disclose more information about international students.
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What To Know
On Monday morning, while many Americans were offline for Memorial Day, Trump took to social media to launch a renewed attack on Harvard.
In a follow-up to his earlier $3 billion funding threat, Trump wrote in a second post: "We are still waiting for the Foreign Student Lists from Harvard so that we can determine... how many radicalized lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country."
The administration's campaign against Harvard began in April, when it issued a list of demands that included banning protest face coverings, auditing diversity programs and enforcing campus policies aimed at fighting antisemitism. Harvard President Alan Garber rejected the demands, citing free speech and constitutional concerns.
Harvard has since filed lawsuits in federal court, arguing that the administration's actions are unlawful and pose a serious threat to academic freedom. In court documents, the university warned that blocking foreign enrollment would have an "immediate and devastating effect" on more than 7,000 international students.
While other elite institutions, including Princeton and MIT, have also been targeted, the administration has made Harvard its primary focus.
Trump's push to redirect funds comes as part of his 2024 campaign messaging around "rebuilding America" and supporting vocational education. In a separate post, he called the trade school plan "a great investment" and accused Harvard of becoming "a liberal mess."
Harvard is well positioned to resist the administration's demands, according to former university President Larry Summers, who told students and alumni last week that the school's financial strength gives it a unique advantage.
With an endowment of $53.2 billion in 2024—the largest of any university in the country—Harvard drew $2.4 billion from it that year, covering about 37 percent of its $6.4 billion in operating expenses, according to a university financial report.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Sunday: "Nobody told us that! We want to know who those foreign students are—a reasonable request since we give Harvard BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. But Harvard isn't exactly forthcoming. We want those names and countries."
Harvard President Alan Garber, in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, or which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, in a post on X on Monday: "Congratulations to Harvard for refusing to relinquish its constitutional rights to Trump's authoritarianism. Other universities should follow their lead. And instead of doing pro bono work for Trump, cowardly law firms should be defending those who believe in the rule of law."
What Happens Next
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration's ban on foreign student enrollment at Harvard, while other legal battles are underway. If Trump follows through on his $3 billion threat, it will likely face additional challenges in court.
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