After months of legal and political battle over funding cuts and limitations on overseas students, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his administration is nearing a resolution with Harvard University.
Mr. Trump said that talks between the federal government and the Ivy League university had made “significant progress” and implied that an agreement could be finalized “within the next week” in a message that was posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.
According to Mr. Trump, “a settlement that is reached on the basis that is currently being discussed will mindbogglingly’ HISTORIC and very good for our Country.” Additionally, he pointed out that several Harvard faculty members “have acted extremely appropriately during these negotiations” and seemed dedicated to upholding moral principles.
The conflict is the result of several government actions that Harvard has faced in the last 12 months. These include the Department of Homeland Security’s action to prevent the university from accepting foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and the freezing of roughly $2.5 billion in government subsidies.
Harvard has been accused by the Trump administration of ignoring claims of antisemitic harassment on campus and of resisting attempts by the government to change its internal rules, such as curricular content and academic ideology. The university has refuted the charges and initiated legal action, claiming that the administration’s actions violated its First Amendment rights and were retaliatory.
Harvard argues that the visa restrictions and budget cuts were politically driven and that it is being singled out for defying government pressure on issues of free speech and academic governance.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs’ injunction earlier this week prevented the Department of Homeland Security from immediately rescinding Harvard’s certification to admit international students, marking a turning point in the legal dispute. Before acting further, the government must go through a months-long administrative process, according to the order.
Harvard applauded Judge Burroughs’ ruling and said it would “continue to defend its rights and the rights of its students and scholars” in a brief statement released on Thursday.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based university has filed two different lawsuits to stop the implementation of an executive proclamation signed by Mr. Trump that prohibits certain foreign nationals from attending the university and to unfreeze government money.
Harvard has requested an extension of the injunction against the declaration, and Judge Burroughs is anticipated to make a decision soon.
About 25% of Harvard’s student body is made up of international students, and the case’s verdict might have a big impact on student mobility and university funding across the US.
Harvard did not immediately comment on the state of the negotiations that Mr. Trump had alluded to. The administration’s actions, however, have been characterized by university officials as “unprecedented” and “deeply concerning” for academic independence.
