Trump pressures Harvard as federal funding and global enrollment stall. (File Image)

Harvard University is facing a growing crisis as President Donald Trump intensifies his efforts to challenge the institution over its policies on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), campus antisemitism, and alleged bias in hiring and admissions practices.With billions in federal funding on the line, the prestigious Ivy League school is reportedly struggling to find a way out of what has been described as an unprecedented showdown between academia and the federal government.According to reporting by the Daily Wire, The New York Times acknowledged that Harvard officials have “privately determined they are in a major, major, major crisis with very few, if any, good off ramps.” The report further noted that Trump “holds the levers of power” in this escalating battle, particularly given the university’s heavy dependence on federal funding for research and operations.Trump targets DEI and antisemitism responseThe dispute centers around Harvard’s DEI policies, its handling of antisemitic incidents on campus, and concerns over fairness in its hiring and admissions procedures. Trump has aggressively moved to block billions in federal dollars directed to the university. According to Daily Wire reporting, the administration even temporarily halted Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, though that decision was blocked by a judge.Still, the move sent shockwaves through the academic community.Michael Schmidt of The New York Times, quoted by the Daily Wire, noted that Trump’s pressure campaign is proving effective. “Trump has stripped extensive federal funding from Harvard,” Schmidt explained. “Let’s say a judge gives back all of that money for this year. Half of the university’s research budget comes from the federal government. Where is Harvard going to get the money in the year after that, and the year after that? If you’re a researcher, do you want to be doing research at a school where your funding is in question?”Harvard braces for long-term funding uncertaintyHarvard’s reliance on federal grants is now seen as a major vulnerability. Schmidt added, as quoted by the Daily Wire, that “the federal government has more levers to use against an institution like Harvard than certainly I had appreciated.” He continued, “If you are persona non grata with Trump, he’s got you by the lapels in a way that is extraordinary. And Harvard is feeling it.”Privately, university officials are reportedly alarmed. “Harvard finds itself in this impossible position,” Schmidt said, according to the Daily Wire. “Harvard officials have privately determined they are in a major, major, major crisis.”Fallout from leadership scandal deepens turmoilThe situation follows the high-profile resignation of former Harvard President Claudine Gay in January 2024. Gay stepped down after facing intense scrutiny from Congress regarding her administration’s handling of antisemitic activity on campus. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) sharply criticized Gay during a congressional hearing, stating, as reported by the Daily Wire, that she “failed to stand up for Jewish students on campus who have been facing antisemitic attacks, who have been facing physical assault.”Stefanik further accused the university of only defending academic freedom in cases involving speech that called for “the genocide of the Jewish people,” a stance she argued rendered Gay unfit to lead the institution.Uncertain path forward for the Ivy League giantAs the conflict intensifies, Harvard’s leadership faces mounting pressure to navigate a path forward. With the federal government under Trump’s control and unwilling to compromise on its demands, Harvard’s future as a premier research institution may hinge on its ability to adapt—or confront—an administration determined to reshape elite academia on its terms.