Additional $60M in grants to Harvard University was cancelled

Published May 20th, 2025 - 01:22 GMT
Harvard
Demonstrators gather on Cambridge Common to protest Harvard's stance on the war in Gaza and show support for the Palestinian people, outside Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 25, 2025. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP)

WASHINGTON

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said Monday that it is terminating $60 million in federal grants to Harvard University.

"HHS is taking decisive action to uphold civil rights in higher education.

"Due to Harvard University’s continued failure to address anti-Semitic harassment and race discrimination, HHS is terminating multiple multi-year grant awards—totaling approximately $60 million over their full duration," the department said on X.

It said discrimination will "not be tolerated" on campus, adding that "federal funds must support institutions that protect all students.”

The Trump administration has already frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard and $60 million in contracts.

Harvard has sued the administration in response, alleging that the funding freeze violates the First Amendment and federal law, which bars the president from directly or indirectly ordering the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to conduct or terminate an audit or investigation.

Harvard President Alan Garber announced last week that the university will use $250 million of its own funds to support research.

The Trump administration has threatened to freeze federal funding for many universities, including Harvard, citing campus protests in support of Palestine and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
 

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