In a dramatic move, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has informed Harvard University that it will no longer be eligible for new federal research grants, escalating a high-profile clash between the Trump administration and one of America’s most prestigious academic institutions
The announcement came via a sharply worded three-page letter sent Monday to Harvard President Alan Garber. McMahon accused the university of “disastrous mismanagement,” citing incidents of antisemitism on campus, alleged race-based admissions practices, and what she called a betrayal of core academic values She also criticized Harvard for hiring former mayors Bill de Blasio and Lori Lightfoot to teach leadership, likening it to “hiring the captain of the Titanic to teach navigation”
McMahon’s letter follows recent freezes on nearly $2. billion in federal funding and comes amid broader scrutiny of elite universities’ policies and leadership. The administration’s new approach aims to block future grants rather than recall existing ones, a strategy that may be harder to challenge in court
Harvard has condemned the move as “unprecedented and improper political interference,” warning it could have severe consequences for research and academic freedom. As the standoff intensifies, the fate of federal funding for Harvard-and potentially other universities-remains uncertain
