How are Harvard University and other prestigious American universities struggling?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - The administration of US President Donald Trump has cut billions of dollars in funding for American universities. What exactly is the situation like?

The move to cut federal funding has forced many universities in the US to temporarily suspend hiring or even implement staff reductions.

In addition to cutting the overall education budget, the Trump administration also directly demanded that some schools comply with new requirements. If a school fails to comply, the administration will suspend funding for that school.

In March, the U.S. Department of Education sent letters to more than 60 higher education institutions in the U.S., warning of potential investigations if the schools did not strengthen their on-campus disciplinary regulations to ensure the safety of all students. Below are some notable cases:

Harvard University

Harvard University campus (Photo: BI).

On April 21, Harvard University announced it had filed a lawsuit against the administration of US President Donald Trump in federal court in Massachusetts. The lawsuit primarily concerns the authorities' warning to freeze $8.9 billion in funding and cancel contracts already signed with Harvard University.

According to Harvard University, the suspension of some funding by authorities is affecting many ongoing research projects.

Previously, the administration of US President Donald Trump accused Harvard University of failing to adequately protect its students, allowing social movements and protests to occur too freely.

Furthermore, Harvard University refused to comply with several government demands, including cutting back on programs promoting "diversity, equity, and inclusion," and restricting admissions to international students deemed to hold "extremist views that contradict the values ​​championed by the U.S. government ."

Immediately after Harvard University announced its refusal to comply with specific requests from authorities, the U.S. government froze $2.2 billion in funding for the university. At the same time, authorities are continuing to monitor Harvard's cooperation in providing information about certain international students.

Columbia University

Columbia University campus (Photo: BI).

Before Harvard University had some of its federal funding frozen, Columbia University was the first prestigious university in the US to have its funding suspended.

The $400 million budget allocated to the university has been frozen. Authorities argue that Columbia University failed to adequately protect the safety of its large student body in the face of student protests.

Following the government's decision to freeze funding, Columbia University proposed a package of reforms to resume receiving federal funding. These measures included increased security and stricter disciplinary regulations. As a result, the university's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned.

Princeton University

Princeton University campus (Photo: BI).

Princeton University announced that several grants from the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Defense have been suspended. According to the university, the specific reasons for the suspension are not entirely clear.

The school's president, Christopher L. Eisgruber, stated that the school is committed to combating all forms of discrimination. Previously, Eisgruber had argued in an article in The Atlantic that the strong actions taken by U.S. authorities against universities were creating significant risks.

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University campus (Photo: BI).

Johns Hopkins University announced it will cut more than 2,200 jobs due to the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Projects affected by this dissolution include HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis prevention programs implemented in numerous countries, in which Johns Hopkins University was deeply involved.

University of Michigan

University of Michigan campus (Photo: BI).

The University of Michigan announced the dissolution of its Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the discontinuation of programs related to these areas. This is due to the government's declining encouragement of such organizations within universities.

The school stated that funds previously allocated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion will now be redirected to provide financial support to students and improve mental health services within the school.

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania campus (Photo: BI).

The Trump administration has suspended $175 million in contracts with the University of Pennsylvania because the university agreed to allow a transgender athlete to join its women's swimming team in 2022.

Currently, the issue of whether or not to allow transgender people to participate in sports is quite controversial in the United States. Essentially, US President Donald Trump does not support this.

Brown University

Brown University campus (Photo: BI).

According to several informed sources, the White House plans to suspend $510 million in funding to Brown University, arguing that the school has not adequately addressed discriminatory practices within its student community.

Representatives from Brown University confirmed they are aware of the circulating information, but have not yet taken any official action against the university by the authorities.

Cornell University

Cornell University campus (Photo: BI).

The U.S. government has temporarily suspended $1 billion in funding to Cornell University due to potential violations of equal rights and civil liberties. Regarding this, representatives from Cornell University stated that they are still working with federal agencies to clarify the issue.

Northwestern University

Northwestern University campus (Photo: BI).

Northwestern University also confirmed the suspension of $790 million in federal funding. A university representative stated that they only learned of the suspension through news reports. The university is still working to determine the direct cause of the authorities' decision.

According to Business Insider

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