The conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard University has escalated, with the government dispatching a letter that combines an array of grievances with a notification regarding future research funding. The missive indicates that Harvard’s eligibility for additional grants could be contingent upon “complying with long-settled Federal Law,” although prior stipulations from the administration extend beyond legal requirements.
The letter, authored by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, presents a convoluted narrative that makes it challenging to discern the administration’s specific demands. The initial paragraph exemplifies this complexity, resembling a stream-of-consciousness complaint rather than a structured outline of funding conditions:
Instead of using these funds to advance the education of its students, Harvard is engaging in a systemic pattern of violating federal law. Where do many of these “students” come from, who are they, how do they get into Harvard, or even into our country—and why is there so much HATE? These are questions that must be answered, among many more, but the biggest question of all is, why will Harvard not give straightforward answers to the American public?
It remains uncertain whether Harvard’s responses to these inquiries will influence the restoration of funding.
The letter shifts topics frequently, complicating the understanding of the substantial funding at stake, which is aimed at prominent researchers. Early in the document, it criticizes a Harvard math class designed to address COVID-related deficiencies in incoming students’ skills, questioning why such a remedial offering is necessary at an institution purportedly known for its high academic standards. The resignation of Harvard’s former president and faculty hiring decisions are also mentioned, with the latter being analogized to “Hiring the captain of the Titanic to teach navigation.”
