Harvard University has indicated its readiness to spend as much as $500 million to resolve its ongoing dispute with the Trump administration. This amount is more than double what Columbia University agreed to pay last week to conclude federal probes, as reported by The New York Times on Tuesday.
The report, citing sources, states that negotiators are still finalizing the financial specifics of the Harvard deal. Harvard is reportedly opposing the imposition of an outside monitor to oversee the agreement, viewing this as a significant “red line.”
Separately, President Donald Trump’s administration has initiated an investigation into Duke University and the Duke Law Journal over allegations of race-related discrimination, making it the latest American university to face the threat of cuts to federal funding. On Monday, the government announced it would probe whether the Duke Law Journal’s selection process for its editors favors candidates from minority communities.
“This investigation is based on recent reporting alleging that Duke University discriminates on the bases of race, color, and/or national origin by using these factors to select law journal members,” the Education Department stated. US Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr sent a letter to the university’s leadership, alleging what the government termed “the use of race preferences in Duke’s hiring, admissions, and scholarship decisions.” The letter urged the university to review its policies and establish a panel “with delegated authority from Duke’s Board of Trustees to enable Duke and the federal government to move quickly toward a mutual resolution of Duke’s alleged civil rights violations.” Duke has not yet provided an immediate comment.
Rights advocates have voiced concerns about free speech and academic freedom in response to the Trump administration’s attempts to crack down on universities.
Trump Administration’s Stance and University Funding Threats
The Trump administration has threatened federal funding cuts against universities and schools over a range of issues, including climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel’s war in Gaza, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In a related development, Brown University has secured a $500 million loan amid federal cuts to research and financial aid in recent months, according to a regulatory filing. A US official told Reuters in April that the Trump administration planned to block $510 million in grants for Brown.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on grounds of race in educational programs that receive federal funding. The government stated in April that it was investigating whether Harvard and the Harvard Law Review violated civil rights laws when the journal’s editors expedited the consideration of an article written by a member of a racial minority. Harvard is currently challenging the government legally to have its frozen federal funding restored.
Trump has claimed, without providing evidence, that groups such as white people and men face discrimination due to DEI initiatives. However, rights groups dismiss this assertion, arguing that DEI addresses historical inequities faced by marginalized groups, including ethnic minorities.
