“I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land,” he posted on his Truth Social platform early on Memorial Day. “What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!”
The announcement, which provided no further specifics, comes as Trump continues to apply pressure on Harvard as part of a broadside against what he calls “woke” ideology and antisemitism on college campuses. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security said it was cutting off Harvard’s ability to enroll international students before a federal judge temporarily halted the move.
Trump’s plan would likely face further legal scrutiny, especially if Congress appropriated the grant money in question for specific purposes.
Harvard has been locked in a battle with the Trump administration since March, when the government said it was reviewing nearly $9 billion in federal funding over antisemitism concerns. Harvard filed a federal lawsuit against the government, arguing the Trump administration has violated the university’s constitutional rights as well as due process.
KEY FINDINGS:
1. Ivy League payments and entitlements cost taxpayers $41.59 billion over a six-year period (FY2010-FY2015). This is equivalent to $120,000 in government monies, subsidies, & special tax treatment per undergraduate student, or $6.93 billion per year.
2. The Ivy League was the recipient of $25.73 billion worth of federal payments during this period: contracts ($1.37 billion), grants ($23.9 billion) and direct payments – student assistance ($460 million).
