Harvard rejects Trump's demands, faces possible loss of dollar 9 billion in federal funding

The bitter feud between Harvard University and US President Donald Trump has intensified. The Trump administration has issued a stern warning that it will stop Harvard from accepting foreign students if the school fails to bow to government pressure for stricter surveillance. The action forms part of a larger campaign by the Trump administration to take control of top-tier academic institutions.

Trump's demands

The President has also made public his opposition to Harvard's policies, leveling charges of ideological bias against the university and insisting on structural change. Trump demands student selection and hiring policy modifications as well as the introduction of federal audits in academic programs and departments. He has also vowed to withdraw the tax-exempt status from Harvard if it fails to adhere to these demands.

Harvard's response

Harvard President Alan Garber has resisted Trump's pressure, saying that the university will not sacrifice its core values. Garber asserted that Harvard would not "negotiate over its independence or its constitutional rights." This position has further infuriated the Trump administration, which perceives Harvard's defiance as an affront to its authority.

The broader campaign

The Trump administration's attack on Harvard is just one aspect of a broader campaign to attack universities for their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The White House has attacked these efforts as discrimination and ideological bias. Dozens of universities have faced the same type of threat from the administration.

Implications for Academic Freedom

The confrontation between Trump and Harvard is of serious concern regarding academic freedom and the government's role in higher education. If the administration is able to impose its will on Harvard, it will open the door for more government intrusion into academic institutions. The war between Trump and Harvard has a long way to go. As things play out, one thing is obvious: the stakes are high for both sides. Harvard's pride in its principles and autonomy will be tested to the limit, and the fate of academic freedom in the US may be immense.