White House Letter to Harvard Reportedly Sent in Error, Funding Frozen
Administration maintains demands despite confusion over unauthorized letter
The Trump administration has become embroiled in controversy after reportedly sending an unauthorized letter to Harvard University containing numerous policy demands. According to The New York Times, the April 11 letter—which demanded curriculum reforms, discontinuation of DEI practices, and other policy changes tied to federal funding—was sent in error, though accounts differ on whether it was sent prematurely or should not have been sent at all. Despite this reported mistake, a White House official confirmed the letter's authenticity and stated that the administration stands by its contents.
The dispute has escalated significantly in recent days, with the administration freezing $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in contract value to Harvard. Additional measures reportedly under consideration include revoking the university's tax-exempt status and restricting its ability to enroll foreign students. Harvard President Alan Garber has firmly rejected the demands, stating that the university "will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights" and characterizing the demands as government overreach.
KEY POINTS
- •White House letter to Harvard in dispute
- •Harvard rejects demands, funding frozen
- •Similar tensions with other universities
The letter was signed by officials from three federal agencies: Josh Gruenbaum from the General Services Administration, Thomas Wheeler from the Department of Education, and Sean Keveney from Health and Human Services. Harvard maintains that it received the letter through official channels and had no reason to question its authenticity. The university's spokesperson emphasized that regardless of whether the letter was sent in error, the subsequent actions taken by the administration have had real consequences for students, patients, and employees.
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