Harvard University has firmly rejected a series of controversial demands issued by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, vowing to protect its independence and constitutional rights even in the face of potential federal funding cuts.
In a statement posted on the university’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday,
Harvard declared:“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.”
The declaration follows an email to the Harvard community from President Alan M. Garber, who revealed that the university had received “an updated and expanded list of demands” from the Trump administration, with a warning that continued federal funding would be contingent upon compliance.
The ten-point list includes measures such as:
Restricting the admission of international students deemed “hostile to American values and institutions.”
Mandatory third-party audits of academic programmes allegedly promoting “antisemitic harassment” or “ideological capture.”
The immediate shutdown of all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including those related to hiring and admissions, to be replaced with what the administration described as “merit-based” policies.
Garber described the move as “unprecedented” and characterized it as a federal attempt to “control the Harvard community” by policing the viewpoints of students, faculty, and staff.
“We have informed the administration through legal counsel that Harvard will not accept these terms,” he stated.
The development has sparked widespread debate across academic and political circles, with many viewing it as part of a broader ideological clash between elite educational institutions and Trump’s administration ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.