The Trump Administration withdraws $2.2 billion in grants from Harvard following the collapse deal.

Harvard University has instructed its attorneys not to pursue an agreement with the Biden administration regarding a series of demands, several targeting anti-Semitism on campus, according to an email from President Alan Garber to faculty on Monday.

The decision jeopardizes billions in federal funding, as the administration had been investigating nearly $9 billion in grants and contracts to Harvard. Just hours after Garber’s announcement, the government froze $2.2 billion in grants to the university.

The dispute stems from federal scrutiny over Harvard’s handling of anti-Semitism following the October 7 Hamas attacks and subsequent campus tensions. While the administration pushed for stricter measures, Harvard’s refusal to negotiate signals a standoff that could have severe financial consequences. Critics argue the university is prioritizing legal defiance over addressing discrimination, while supporters see it as resisting federal overreach.

The funding freeze underscores the high stakes for Harvard, which relies heavily on federal research grants. The outcome may set a precedent for how universities balance institutional autonomy with compliance demands.