Harvard University's Response to Trump Administration's Federal Grant Threat

Updated: 07 May 2025, 08:45 PM IST

Harvard University responds to the Trump Administration's threat to withhold federal grants due to alleged violations of federal law.

Harvard University's Response to Trump Administration's Threat

In a controversial move, the Trump Administration sought to compel Harvard University to return to the negotiating table by threatening to make them ineligible for new federal grants. Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a contentious letter to Harvard, accusing the university of systematic violations of federal law. However, Harvard edited the letter professor-style and sent it back to McMahon with errors noted in red pen.

The letter detailed various mistakes by the Education Secretary, including grammatical errors and improper capitalization. Social media users commented on the errors, with some questioning if the letter was written by an AI. The three-page letter accused Harvard of racism, plagiarism scandals, and poor leadership, sparking a heated debate between the university and the Trump Administration.

Despite the Trump Administration later claiming the demands outlined in the letter were sent in error, the dispute between Harvard University and the government continues to escalate.