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Barack Obama took a swipe at Donald Trump after the US president halted £1.5billion in funding for Harvard University in an ongoing row. The prestigious institution rejected a list of demands from the White House, which included making changes to its hiring practices, admissions process, and how it’s governed. In response, Mr Obama seemingly expressed his frustration at his successor’s “unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom”.
The former president wrote on X: “Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope other institutions follow suit.” Mr Trump has tried to withhold federal funds from US universities that mainly use them for research, with Harvard being the first to push back against the proposals.
The White House’s letter to the university, obtained by the New York Times, said it did not meet the “intellectual and civil rights conditions” needed for federal investment.
It suggested reporting students who are “hostile” to American values to the government, as well as foreign students who commit “conduct violations”.
In response, Harvard President Alan Garber accused the administration of regulating the “intellectual conditions” at Harvard and exceeding the federal government’s powers.
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He said: “It makes clear that the intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism in a cooperative and constructive manner.
“Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard.”
The Department of Education slammed Harvard’s decision to ignore the letter’s recommendations, saying it has a “troubling entitlement mindset”.
It said in a statement: “Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges.”
The Trump administration said last month that it was reviewing £193million in funding to Harvard through federal contracts and garnds, and another £6.5billion in multi-year grant commitments.