Feds crack down on Harvard over non-compliance, finances

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(The Center Square) - The Trump administration targeted Harvard University last week for non-compliance with a federal civil rights investigation and required the university to fund student loans upfront before receiving federal aid reimbursement.

The Department of Education sent a letter to the Harvard President Alan Garber, noting the university must now use its own funds to disburse federal student aid.

Garber has been in a long negotiation with the administration over federal funding and international student enrollment. 

The administration is demanding Harvard post an irrevocable letter of credit of $36 million to protect taxpayer funding.

“Harvard must now seek reimbursement after distributing federal student aid and post financial protection so that the Department can ensure taxpayer funds are not at risk,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “While Harvard remains eligible to participate in the federal student aid program for now, these actions are necessary to protect taxpayers.”

In another letter on Friday, the department gave Harvard a 20-day deadline to provide documents relating to its undergraduate admission process.

This comes after the university refused to comply with providing the requested information, and the federal civil rights department claims that “the university continues to engage in unlawful racial discrimination in its admissions process.” 

“For all their claims, they refuse to provide evidence necessary for the Department to make that determination. What are they hiding?” said McMahon. “No one – not even Harvard – is above the law, and we will not allow any institution to disregard its obligation to uphold students’ civil rights. The Trump Administration will continue to use all legal tools available to restore accountability and transparency to our nation’s institutions.”

These two letters to the university continue the ongoing battle between Trump and higher education institutions.

Earlier this month, a Boston federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s $2.2 billion funding freeze against Harvard after the government's claims of antisemitism. 

Trump demanded Harvard pay $500 million to restore its federal funding.

“The number of $500 million is completely arbitrary, and it will solve nothing,” former Harvard President Claudine Gay said. “There is no justification.”

The judge who blocked the order explained the administration “failed to provide a reasoned explanation for how or why freezing and terminating funding would further the goal of ending antisemitism." The judge noted that directly conflicts with the First Amendment, which protects free speech.

“We will continue to dedicate ourselves to expanding, disseminating, and applying knowledge, knowing that our successes will make a real difference for individuals across the country and around the world,” Garber said in a statement regarding the frozen funding.