Harvard University says it will plough $250 million into funding “critical research” after the US government announced fresh budget cuts to the elite school.
Federal agencies are cutting $2.6 billion in grants to Harvard University, citing allegations of discrimination at one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions.
In response, Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully attempting to exert control over the university’s internal affairs.
“While we cannot fully offset the loss of these suspended or canceled federal funds, we will allocate financial resources to sustain essential research during this transitional period,” said Harvard President Alan Garber and Provost John Manning in a joint statement released Wednesday.
They added that the university is working closely with researchers to find alternative sources of funding.
The statement condemned the grant freeze and cancellations as “unlawful,” warning that they are “halting lifesaving research and, in some instances, erasing years of critical work.”
With an endowment valued at $53.2 billion as of 2024, Harvard remains the wealthiest university in the United States. However, it has faced mounting pressure from the Trump administration after refusing to accept federal oversight of its admissions policies, hiring decisions, and perceived political bias.
That standoff led the administration to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding last month, followed by an additional $450 million in cuts announced this week.
The White House has been tightening its grip on U.S. universities, justifying the actions as part of a broader campaign against what it calls unchecked anti-Semitism and efforts to dismantle diversity initiatives aimed at addressing historic racial inequities.
The administration has also taken steps to revoke visas and deport international students who have participated in protests against the war in Gaza, accusing them of supporting Hamas, a designated militant group.
Trump’s stance on diversity programs echoes long-held conservative criticisms that university campuses are dominated by liberal ideology, marginalizing conservative voices and privileging minority groups.
