By Abiola Olawale
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has reportedly directed federal agencies to terminate about $100 million in contracts with Harvard.
The directive is said to be outlined in a draft letter from the General Services Administration (GSA).
The draft letter purportedly signed by Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the GSA, the leader of the agency responsible for procuring US government goods and services, allegedly instructed agencies to identify and cancel existing contracts or redirect them to alternative vendors.
The draft letter cited alleged antisemitism, liberalism, and discriminatory practices, as justification for severing ties, alongside claims of Harvard’s noncompliance with federal demands on governance and curriculum.
Contracts set to be affected by the proposed directive include a $39,000 deal for graduate student research, a $50,000 National Institutes of Health study on coffee consumption, and a $523,000 research project on energy drinks.
The move follows months of tension, with Trump’s administration accusing Harvard of allegedly fostering antisemitism, liberalism, and discriminatory practices, including allegations of racial bias in the Harvard Law Review’s article selection and editor appointment processes.
Also, the development comes after Trump’s administration had earlier frozen $2.65 billion in research grants and attempted to revoke Harvard’s ability to enrol international students, a move temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
Recall also that Trump who took to his official social media accounts on Monday, vowed to ensure his administration wins against Harvard.
“I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land,” Trump said.
However, Harvard had pushed back, filing lawsuits against the administration, arguing that these actions violate First Amendment rights and constitute retaliation for the university’s refusal to comply with what it calls “illegal” policy demands.
Harvard’s President Alan Garber emphasized the broader implications, warning that cuts to federal funding could harm public-interest research and undermine U.S. leadership in science and technology.
