Homeland Security Minister Kristi Noem issued a stern warning to universities on Thursday, urging them to "get your act together" after halting Harvard's program to enroll international students, Axios reported.
The escalating standoff between Harvard and the Trump administration marks an unprecedented attempt by the federal government to control the internal governance of private universities, with worrying implications for academic freedom and the future of higher education in the United States.
The standoff actually began in the months following the October 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli onslaught on Gaza, where at least 53,655 Palestinians have been killed.
Testimony by then Harvard President, Claudine Gay, before Congress about the government's response to pro-Palestinian protests sparked outrage, as elected officials, particularly Republicans, called for a greater crackdown. Gay later resigned from her position and was replaced by Alan Garber in August 2024.
The conflict between Harvard University and the Trump administration has escalated throughout 2025, as federal authorities have increasingly imposed harsh measures on the university in an effort to compel compliance with the new government's directives.
Here is the chronology of the Harvard standoff with Trump, as summarized by Al Jazeera:
January 2025
Donald Trump assumed office for his second term in the presidency, following his campaign to crack down on pro-Palestine protests, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and what he called "woke ideology" on college campuses.
Trump also signed a series of executive orders calling on government agencies to take action against DEI programs at private institutions, including universities, and to increase government efforts to combat anti-Semitism, especially on campuses.
February 2025
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a task force dedicated to combating anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on campuses. The task force announced plans to visit ten universities, including Harvard.
The visits were prompted by allegations that these institutions may have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty from unlawful discrimination, potentially violating federal law.
March 7, 2025
The Trump administration targeted its first university by slashing $400 million in federal funding for Columbia University. The government accused the university of "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students."
Subsequently, the Department of Education sent warning letters to Harvard and dozens of other universities about "potential enforcement actions."
March 21, 2025
Columbia yielded to Trump's demands. The university began banning face masks, empowering campus police with arresting authority, and appointed a new administrator to oversee the Department of Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies and the Center for Palestine Studies.
March 31, 2025
The US Departments of Education (ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), and General Services Administration (GSA) announced a formal review of Harvard's $255.6 million contract and multi-year $8.7 billion grants.
This review is part of the "ongoing efforts of the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism," the statement said.
April 11, 2025
Harvard received a letter from the government listing several demands from the Trump administration. These demands included a governance overhaul reducing student and some faculty powers and reforming new student recruitment and admissions practices.
Harvard was also demanded to reject students deemed "hostile to the American values and institutions," abolish diversity programs, and audit several academic programs and centers, including those related to the Middle East.
April 14, 2025
Harvard President Garber strongly rejected the demands, which the U.S. responded by announcing funding freezes, including $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contracts.
April 15, 2025
Trump continued to issue threats and accusations against Harvard. In a post on Truth Social, he stated that Harvard could lose its "Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity." He accused Harvard of "pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness’.”
April 16, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security asked Harvard to submit records of "illegal and violent activities" of foreign students, while threatening to revoke the university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program approval. This certification is required to accept international students. Noem gave a deadline until April 30 for this.
April 21, 2025
Harvard filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of violating the First Amendment of the US Constitution by imposing arbitrary funding cuts.
April 30, 2025
Harvard stated that they had provided the information requested by Noem regarding foreign students, but did not disclose the nature of the information provided.
May 2, 2025
Trump reiterated that the government would revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. No immediate action was taken.
May 5, 2025
The Trump administration stated that they would cut all new federal grants to Harvard.
May 13, 2025
The US Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced $450 million in federal funding from eight federal agencies.
May 19, 2025
The DOJ announced it would use the False Claims Act, typically used to prosecute federal fund recipients accused of corruption, to crack down on universities like Harvard over DEI policies. The Department of Health and Human Services also stated they would stop $60 million in federal grants for Harvard.
May 22, 2025
Noem announced the revocation of Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program, effectively banning the enrollment of new international students and stating that existing students must transfer to continue their studies.
Harvard responded: "We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the university—and this nation—immeasurably."
Editor’s Choice: Trump Bans Harvard from Admitting Foreign Students
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