Harvard battles Trump administration over funding freeze
Melania Trump has denied online theories suggesting that President Donald Trump's administration is deliberately targeting Harvard University following the alleged rejection of their son, Barron Trump's application. The First Lady's spokesperson has responded. The university is currently in court against the president's administration.
Melania Trump's spokesperson told People magazine: "Barron did not apply to Harvard, and any assertion that he, or that anyone on his behalf, applied is completely false."
19-year-old Barron is currently a student at New York University. His college admission has become the subject of speculation following the Trump administration's decision on May 27 to block federal funds for this prestigious Ivy League institution. The decision came after Harvard's refusal to comply with the administration's demands from April, which included initiatives for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and accepting international students.
Melania Trump's spokesperson refutes rumours about Barron Trump and Harvard University
According to The New York Times, the cut federal funds amount to 100 million dollars (138 million Canadian dollars). Over the past month, the administration has frozen approximately 3.2 billion dollars (4.4 billion Canadian dollars) in grants and contracts with Harvard.
The latest letter sent to Harvard authorities requires the university to respond to the cancellation of contracts by June 6. All key projects will be transferred to other contractors, reports The New York Times.
The same source states that last week, the Trump administration attempted to prevent international students from studying at Harvard. On Friday, May 23, the university sued the administration, and a federal judge issued a temporary injunction.
Harvard University fights in court with the Trump administration
In April, scientists from Harvard warned that their research on monkeys was at risk due to cuts in federal funding. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) halted research activities at that time. Sarah Fortune, the lead researcher on the tuberculosis project, told The Boston Globe: "It’s such a heavy responsibility to work with them and to just be asked to kill them halfway through the study."
While Harvard fights in court against the administration, Columbia University agreed in March to meet its demands, allowing new government oversight over its Middle Eastern studies department and others.
The Trump administration claims that its actions towards educational institutions aim to combat anti-Semitism and discrimination against female athletes, but critics accuse it of being anti-Palestinian and targeting transgender athletes.
