The Trump administration has now threatened to stop accepting international students at Harvard after slashing off more funds on Wednesday. Harvard’s tax-exempt status may also be revoked by the IRS.Kristi Noem, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, had stated that two DHS grants worth over $2.7 million to Harvard had been terminated.
Noem stated on Wednesday that she had given the University until April 30 to provide documentation of “illegal and violent activities” that Harvard’s international students had participated in.
In a letter to the University that the New York Post was able to get, Noem stated as much. “Having international students at Harvard University is a privilege, not a guarantee,” the letter to the university’s director of immigration services read.
According to the head of DHS, the US government is aware that Harvard’s substantial endowment growth and sustainability rely heavily on donations from more than 10,000 overseas students. Noem further noted that by not firmly denouncing antisemitism, the University has permitted a “hostile environment” for Jewish students.
Harvard announced earlier this week that it would not abide by the Trump administration’s demands to limit antisemitism on campus. The White House responded by blocking access to $60 million in contracts and $2.2 billion in long-term assistance.
Harvard’s leadership was harshly criticized by Noem, who said that this could jeopardize national security. She asserted that the emergence of radical viewpoints on campus has caused the university to lose its previous standing as a premier university.
She also cautioned that Harvard may lose its authorization to accept foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) if it does not comply with the administration’s most recent criteria by April 30.
IRS may revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status: Report
Three persons with knowledge of the matter told the New York Times that the IRS is considering removing Harvard’s tax-exempt status. This would be a significant step in the Trump administration’s attempts to stop the university from receiving federal assistance and financing.
On Tuesday, Trump said Harvard ought to begin paying taxes. Additionally, his administration has been putting pressure on the school to alter its hiring practices, admissions policies, and course offerings.
According to two individuals, several IRS officials informed colleagues that on Wednesday, the Treasury Department requested that the IRS investigate the possibility of rescinding Harvard’s tax exemption. Since these sources were talking about private talks, their identities were kept confidential.
