Harvard in political crossfire as US demands decade of foreign funding records

The US government has intensified its scrutiny of Harvard University, formally requesting a decade’s worth of records on the institution’s foreign funding and affiliations.

The move is part of a broader campaign targeting top US universities amid growing tensions over campus protests, diversity programs, and other flashpoints in the nation’s culture wars.

In a letter sent on April 18 to Harvard President Alan Garber, the US Department of Education accused the university of filing "incomplete and inaccurate" disclosures of foreign donations between 2014 and 2019.

Under federal law, universities must report foreign gifts and contracts exceeding $250,000 annually.

“Today’s records request is the Trump administration’s first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by, or doing the bidding of, foreign entities,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. The department did not present evidence to support the claim.

Harvard defended its compliance with reporting requirements, saying it has long disclosed such donations in accordance with federal law.

“This includes contracts to provide executive education, other training, and academic publications,” the university said in a statement.

The letter demands Harvard submit additional records within 30 days, including information about expelled foreign students, research conducted by those individuals, and a list of all visiting academics affiliated with foreign governments over the past 10 years.

This escalation follows a series of aggressive actions by the Trump administration.

Recently, officials launched a review of $9 billion in federal grants and contracts awarded to Harvard, froze $2.3 billion in funding, and threatened to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status.

They also demanded changes such as a ban on masks during protests and the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The administration's crackdown has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates, who describe the campaign as an assault on free speech and academic freedom.

Many of the administration’s threats stem from pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses, including at Harvard, following Israel’s military response to the October 2023 Hamas attacks.

President Trump has characterized student protesters as antisemitic and aligned with extremist ideologies — a charge demonstrators, including Jewish groups, strongly reject.

They insist their actions represent criticism of Israeli policy and support for Palestinian rights, not endorsement of violence or hatred.

The administration has also taken steps to deport some foreign students involved in protests and has revoked hundreds of visas nationwide.

Similar actions have been directed at universities including Columbia, Princeton, Brown, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, and Northwestern.

Harvard has rejected several government demands it claims would compromise its independence.

Despite mounting pressure, the university maintains that it will continue to uphold its academic mission and legal obligations.