Trump Administration Targets Harvard: $100 Million in Contracts at Risk

Federal Contracts Under Review

In Washington, a senior official from the Trump administration announced that federal agencies are being urged to terminate contracts with Harvard University, which amount to approximately $100 million. This move follows the cancellation of over $2.6 billion in federal research grants previously allocated to the prestigious institution, which has resisted the administration's demands for policy alterations.

A draft communication from the General Services Administration instructs agencies to assess their contracts with Harvard and consider alternative suppliers. This letter is expected to be dispatched on Tuesday, as per the official who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters.

The New York Times was the first to report on this development.

President Trump has been vocal in his criticism of Harvard, labeling it a center of liberalism and antisemitism amid a growing conflict with the university.

In response to the administration's push for changes in its governance and admissions practices, Harvard initiated legal action on April 21. Since then, the administration has significantly reduced the university's federal funding, attempted to restrict international student enrollment, and threatened its tax-exempt status.

The administration has pinpointed around 30 contracts across nine different agencies for potential cancellation, according to another official who also spoke on the condition of anonymity. These contracts include executive training programs for officials at the Department of Homeland Security.

Agencies with essential contracts are being advised not to terminate them immediately but to create a strategy for transitioning to other vendors instead of Harvard.

It is important to note that this directive pertains solely to federal contracts with Harvard and does not affect its other research grants.