Harvard Says It Will Not Comply With Trump Administration’s Demands

Federal officials said Harvard must enact “merit-based reform” in hiring and admissions, among other things. Harvard called the demands unlawful.


Harvard University will "not accept" demands made by President Donald Trump's administration amid threats of funding cuts, according to a statement issued Monday.

"The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights," read a post on the university's X account published Monday. "Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government."

In an email sent to the Harvard community, President Alan M. Garber said the university received "an updated and expanded list of demands" from the Trump administration, warning them to comply if they'd like to "maintain financial relationship with the federal government."

The demands, which the administration says are aimed at addressing antisemitism on campus, including restricting acceptance of any international students who are "hostile to the American values and institutions." The administration also aims to audit programs offered at the school "that most fuel antisemitic harassment or reflect ideological capture."