From pride to peril: US president vs. Harvard in historic standoff over academic freedom

Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the US, has become the epicenter of a high-stakes conflict with President Donald Trump , igniting national debate over academic freedom , federal authority, and institutional independence. What began as a firm rejection of the White House's demands by Harvard President Alan Garber has escalated into what faculty and students describe as an existential threat to the university's future.

As reported by The New York Times, following Harvard's refusal to comply with unspecified requests from the White House, the Trump administration retaliated swiftly, beginning on April 14, 2025, with a freeze on $2.2 BILLION in federal grants. The following days brought further threats to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status and restrict its ability to enroll international students .

Harvard under fire: budget cuts and frozen research
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has been hit hardest by the crackdown. With 46 percent of its budget sourced from federal funding, the school is now facing massive financial uncertainty. During a town hall on April 17, attended by around 1,000 students, faculty, and staff, administrators revealed the toll of the funding freeze, with no clear end in sight.

"We're hunkering down for the beginning of a war," said Steve Gortmaker, director of the school's Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity, as quoted by The New York Times. Already, 19 federal research grants have been terminated for not aligning with administration priorities, and a $60 MILLION contract for tuberculosis research was halted via a "stop-work" order.

A community in protest and peril
Faculty and students rallied in Harvard Yard on the afternoon of April 17, drawing one of the largest protests in recent years. Hundreds condemned what they see as political retaliation. Matthew Ichihashi Potts, professor at the Harvard Divinity School, called it "an existential fight," emphasizing that the battle will be won only if Harvard holds to its values, as reported by The New York Times.

Meanwhile, international students face daily fear. As The New York Times reported, Abdullah Shahid Sial, a sophomore from Pakistan, said he checks his email every morning fearing visa revocation. "If that's how you're starting your day, you probably aren't thinking about the lectures," he said.

Uncertain future for Harvard and beyond
Administrators warn of long-term institutional transformation. With layoffs underway and entire departments bracing for restructuring, Harvard's leadership has acknowledged that the school may not look the same in the coming months or even years, The New York Times reported. The university has yet to announce whether it will pursue legal action against the Trump administration.