Harvard could lose money due to protests and diversity. Trump speaks of agreement

Donald Trump announced that his administration was close to reaching an agreement with Harvard University, under which the university would pay $500 million and establish technical schools for AI and technology.
This move is part of broader pressure on elite universities, which are under investigation for pro-Palestinian protests, diversity, and transgender policies.

The government is considering withholding federal funds, which amount to about $1 billion annually for Harvard. Columbia and Brown have already yielded and committed to payments to the government or support for local workforce development and other changes. Critics see this as politically motivated interference in academic freedom.

In the case of Harvard, the government attempted to deny access to foreign students and end funding for research grants. However, some of these measures were blocked by the courts.

Nevertheless, the Trump administration is continuing to apply pressure. The Department of Health and Human Services recently initiated proceedings that could result in the university being barred from contracts with all federal agencies or from receiving federal grants.

(reuters, max)