President Trump poses a new threat to Harvard University on Tuesday after the federal government Frozen $2.2 billion In grants to institutions, Ivy League schools suggest that “have lost their tax-free status and should be taxed as a political entity.”
The president’s latest statement comes after Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced Monday it would reject a list of requests from the Trump administration to manage school policy and leadership. Harvard is The latest university targeted The Trump administration has been using federal funds as leverage to change internal governance at universities and to use methods of managing student representation on campus.
“Perhaps Harvard has lost its tax-free status and is inspired by political, ideological and terrorists, and “if we continue to support/support the disease, we should be taxed as a political entity,” Trump wrote on True Social Tuesday. “Remember that tax-free status is entirely conditional on public interest actions!”
According to the American Association of University, almost all public and private universities in the United States are educational institutions and are exempt from paying taxes.
Harvard rejects Trump’s request
The conflict between several universities and the Trump administration stems from pro-Palestinian camps that grew up in Harvard Yard Last year, on other university campuses. The Trump administration said at the end of March it was reviewing grants with Harvard about $9 billion as it investigates alleged anti-Semitism incidents at the college.
The Trump administration’s letter to Harvard on April 11 called for several changes, including leadership reform in schools and the end of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Harvard President Alan Gerber replied that the university would “not waive independence or waive constitutional rights.”
“Many of us want to be part of a community that works there and stands up for that principle, right?” said Ryan Enos, a Harvard political science professor. “If you don’t have it, you don’t have anything.”
Harvard donations and federal funds
Earlier this year, Harvard announced the a Hire Freeze In response to “fast changing federal government policies.” Much of the federal funds received by Harvard University are spent on medical and scientific research.
For example, Harvard Medical School says federal support has enabled “innovation in cancer immunotherapy, treatment for diabetes and obesity, treatment for autoimmune diseases and initial gene editing therapies.” Sickle cell disease,more. ”
“Not only did things stop cold, they have a lot,” Enos said. “One day, they’re doing research and they can’t do the next day. That’s also the fact that they can’t plan.”
But Shabos Kestenbaum, who earned a master’s degree from Harvard and campaigned for Trump, says that this kind of penalty against the university has been long behind.
“What the federal government is doing is saying, ‘You have a track record of discrimination, you have a track record of violating your own student civil rights, and we are not going to fund this,” he said. “Harvard is about to have a cake and eat it.”
With Harvard University reporting more than $53 billion in donations last year, some critics may wonder why schools need federal funds.
“Of course, there are some truth to that. That’s why Harvard is important to fight,” Enos said. “They’re digging for a kind of battle, so we all have to be prepared to go through it now.”
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