How Trump’s Push On Harvard Affects Foreign Students And Security

an image on the lawn of a main building at Harvard University

Harvard University faces the potential loss of billions in federal funding and ability to enroll foreign students unless it complies with the Trump administration’s demands for records on international student misconduct by April 30.

Key Insights

Harvard has openly defied Trump administration demands for student disciplinary information, freezing $2.2 billion in federal grants and risking its tax-exempt status
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has threatened to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students if it doesn’t provide records on “illegal and violent” activities by April 30, 2025
The administration links Harvard’s alleged tolerance of antisemitism with national security concerns, particularly regarding its 27.2% international student population
Harvard President Alan Garber maintains that government should not dictate what private universities teach, whom they admit, or which areas they study
The conflict represents a broader administration crackdown on elite universities accused of tolerating antisemitism following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack

Harvard Defies Federal Demands on Foreign Student Information

In an unprecedented standoff between academia and the federal government, Harvard University is refusing to comply with the Trump administration’s demands for information about misconduct among its foreign student population. The administration has responded by freezing $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and threatening to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll international students. Harvard President Alan Garber has taken a firm stance against what the university views as government overreach, becoming the first major institution to openly reject the administration’s requirements.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a letter demanding Harvard provide records on “illegal and violent” activities by its foreign student visa holders by April 30, 2025. If the university fails to comply, it risks losing its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, which would effectively bar it from enrolling international students. The administration has already canceled $2.7 million in grants to Harvard, citing studies that allegedly disparage conservatives and promote “public health propaganda” about COVID-19.

Thursday campus antisemitism roundup
Harvard: IRS working on removing tax exempt statushttps://t.co/jYL8oLD5R6

Harvard: Harvard’s AAUP withdrew its request for a judge to preemptively block funding freezes from the Trump administration, after the court did not grant their…

— Andrew Pessin (@AndrewPessin) April 17, 2025

National Security Concerns and Antisemitism Allegations

The Trump administration has framed its demands as a matter of national security, particularly in light of antisemitic incidents following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. With international students comprising 27.2% of Harvard’s student body, the administration has drawn connections between the university’s foreign population and campus unrest. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that hundreds of foreign students involved in radical protests have already been deported over the past 18 months.

Secretary Noem has been particularly critical of Harvard’s leadership, accusing the institution of fostering extremism and threatening national security through its alleged tolerance of antisemitism. The administration has emphasized a correlation between elite colleges and anti-Israel protests, suggesting that the high presence of foreign students may be a contributing factor. This crackdown extends beyond Harvard, with the administration also freezing or canceling funding for other universities including Columbia, Cornell, and Princeton.

Financial Implications and Academic Freedom

The financial stakes for Harvard are substantial. Beyond the $2.2 billion already frozen, the university risks losing access to a total of $9 billion in federal grants. Additionally, the administration has instructed the IRS to consider revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Experts note that contrary to popular belief, Harvard’s endowment is not easily accessible to offset these funding cuts, potentially putting the institution in a difficult financial position despite its wealth.

Harvard president Alan Garber said, “No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”

Harvard stands firm in its position that the administration’s demands represent an unprecedented intrusion into academic independence. President Garber has emphasized that the university will not surrender its independence or constitutional rights, regardless of which political party is in power. The university maintains it expects compliance with the law but rejects what it considers governmental overreach into academic affairs. This position marks a significant shift for Harvard, which had previously been criticized for yielding to administration pressure.