Federal Agencies Told to Terminate Contracts Worth $100 Million with Harvard University
Trump authorities consider reducing $100 million in federal agreements tied to Harvard University
WASHINGTON - In an escalation of the dispute between the Trump administration and Harvard University, federal agencies have been instructed to cancel about $100 million in contracts with the university.
A letter from the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees federal contracting and real estate, was sent on Tuesday, directing agencies to review and seek alternative arrangements for contracts with Harvard. According to a senior administration official, there are approximately 30 contracts across nine agencies that are being targeted.
The contracts include executive training for the Department of Homeland Security, research on health outcomes related to energy drinks, and graduate student research services. Agencies with contracts deemed critical have been advised to develop a transition plan with a different vendor rather than immediate termination of contracts.
The recent letter follows more than $2.6 billion in research grants that the administration has already canceled for Harvard. The university has resisted the administration's demands for changes to several of its policies, leading to a lawsuit filed by Harvard on April 21.
The administration has accused Harvard of being a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism, calling it out on multiple occasions. International students, who are not eligible for federal financial aid, are at the center of the conflict. The Trump administration has threatened to cut off enrollment for international students at Harvard and has even suggested reallocating their funding to trade schools.
In response, international students at Harvard have faced increased scrutiny from the Department of Homeland Security, which has demanded access to a trove of files related to foreign students, including disciplinary records and records of dangerous or violent activity. A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the move after Harvard sued the administration.
Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology has announced plans to look for ways to support the affected international students at Harvard. Despite the lack of direct support from universities in other countries, the conflict has sparked solidarity and support within the Harvard community. Legal battles, public rallies, and engagement from prominent alumni have shown unwavering support for the university.
The Trump administration's decision to cancel federal contracts is the latest development in a long-standing dispute between the administration and Harvard, which continues to unfold with no immediate resolution in sight.
- The cancelled contracts with Harvard University include training for the Department of Homeland Security in education-and-self-development, research on health outcomes in the realm of real estate, and graduate student research services in various fields.
- In the midst of this controversy, general-news outlets have reported on the administration's accusations of Harvard as a hub for liberalism and antisemitism, and the resulting lack of federal funding for international students who are not eligible for financial aid.
- Amidst the turmoil, politics have become intertwined with education as Japan's Ministry of Education has announced plans to support the affected international students at Harvard, demonstrating political support and solidarity in response to the administration's actions.
