The Trump administration threatened on Wednesday to withdraw Harvard from federal programs administering student visas if they do not comply with record requests by the end of the month.
Homeland Security Secretary Christie Nom requested that Ivy League schools provide DHS with information relating to potential “illegal” and “violent” activities, as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on higher education, in a letter obtained by the Post to school officials.
“It’s a privilege for foreign students to attend Harvard University, not guaranteed,” he wrote to the university’s immigration director in the missile.
“The US government understands that Harvard University relies heavily on funding from more than 10,000 foreign students, building and maintaining substantial donations,” the DHS chief added. “At the same time, your institution created a hostile learning environment for Jewish students because Harvard University did not condemn anti-Semitism.”
Earlier this week, Harvard said it was not complying with requests issued by the Trump administration that aimed to reduce anti-Semitism on campus, with the White House frozen $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contracts.
Noem announced Wednesday that DHS had cancelled two undergraduate-to-university grants, adding up another $2.7 million, declaring it “inappropriate” to receive taxpayer money.
“Harvard bends its knees for anti-Semitism — driven by its spinless leadership, burning the Sespool of extremist riots and threatening our national security,” she said in a statement. “As anti-American, Prohama ideologies addiction to campus and classrooms, Harvard’s status as an institution of higher education is a distant memory. America is demanding more taxpayer dollars from universities entrusted with its taxpayer dollars.”
Noem threatened to “retract school accreditation” from the Student and Exchange Visitors Program (SEVP) if they refuse to comply with the latest Trump administration requests by April 30th.
The SEVP, which falls within the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), oversees the management of F and M visas issued respectively to foreign students considering enrolling in US academic or vocational programs.
NOEM requested Harvard University to submit information regarding “known illegal activities” of student visa holders. “known danger or violent activity”; “known threats to other student or university staff.” “A known deprivation of the rights of other classmates or university staff.” And whether any of these activities occurred on campus.
DHS also wants to know whether Harvard student visa holders left school as a result of these types of actions and whether “disciplinary action” was taken in response to threats or protests from international students on campus.
Noem further requested that Harvard provide “information regarding each student visa holder maintaining the minimum required coursework to maintain at least the status of non-immigrant students.”
“Don’t comply with this student’s record request will be treated as a voluntary withdrawal,” the DHS secretary said the withdrawal “is not subject to appeal.”
The letter is reported to report that the Internal Revenue Service is planning to withdraw Harvard’s tax-free status.
CNN reported on Wednesday that a final decision on withdrawing the university’s tax exemption is expected soon.
The White House, the Treasury Department, and the IRS did not respond to post office requests for comment.
The University of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has the largest donation in the country (approximately $52 billion), winning around $2.4 billion in 2024.
The donation is reportedly funds. Approximately 37.5% Of Harvard’s $6.4 billion operating budget. The annual federal funds ($686 million) account for 16% of the operating budget. If tax exemption status changes, the donation tax rate could skyrocket from 1.4% to the standard 21% corporate tax rate (not considering deductions).
Harvard did not respond to requests for comment on the post.
