WASHINGTON () — President Donald Trump has instructed federal agencies to terminate or transition federal government contracts with Harvard University, a senior administration official told .
A letter from the General Services Administration, first obtained by The New York Times, instructs all federal departments to assist in a review aimed at severing ties with Harvard and its affiliates.
“We recommend that your agency terminate for convenience each contract that it determines has failed to meet its standards, and transition to a new vendor those contracts that could be better serviced by an alternative counterparty,” said Josh Gruenbaum, the commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. “Going forward, we also encourage your agency to seek alternative vendors for future services where you had previously considered Harvard.”
Trump: Foreign students at Harvard taking US spots
Harvard has drawn the ire of Trump recently on multiple fronts. Trump has accused the university of creating havens for anti-Semitic rhetoric and behavior and failing to prioritize American students in admissions.
“A lot of the foreign students we wouldn’t have a problem with,” Trump said Sunday while speaking to reporters as he left New Jersey. “But it shouldn’t be 31 percent. It’s too much because we have Americans that want to go there and to other places, and they can’t go there because you have 31 percent foreign.”
Additionally, Trump wrote on Truth Social, ‘I’m considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemtic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land. What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!”
Harvard battles attempt to block foreign student enrollment
Last month, the Trump administration froze about $1.2 billion in grants and contracts with Harvard and is now attempting to block the university from enrolling international students.
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order on the student enrollment restriction. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday to determine whether that order will be extended.
Meanwhile, lawyers for Harvard and the federal government are due in court Tuesday to argue the case.
“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the university and its mission,” the university said it its legal complaint. “Harvard’s certification is essential for each of Harvard’s thousands of international students to lawfully remain in this country while they complete coursework, obtain degrees, and continue critical research.”
Harvard said if the complaint stands, the daily functioning of the university would be affected and would create uncertainty for the future of the thousands of students on their campus.
