Harvard rejects Trump administration’s demands

Harvard University has insisted it will “not accept” demands made by President Donald Trump's administration amid threats of funding cuts.

This was contained in a statement released on Monday.

“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government,” the post on Harvard's X account read.

President Alan M. Garber, in an email sent to the Harvard community, disclosed that the university had received “an updated and expanded list of demands” from the Trump administration.

They were warned to comply if they wished to “maintain financial relationship with the federal government.”

The ten demands include a restriction on the acceptance of international students who are “hostile to the American values and institutions.”

The administration also wants a third party to audit programmes offered by Harvard, which it claims “fuel antisemitic harassment or reflect ideological capture.”

The administration further demanded the immediate closure of all diversity, equity and inclusion programmes and initiatives, including those for hiring and admissions, asking the university to replace them with “merit-based” policies.

Garber described the demands as “unprecedented”, and claimed it was an attempt by the federal government “to control the Harvard community” by policing the viewpoints of students, faculty and staff.

The university has informed Trump's administration through legal counsel that it will not accept the terms.