Trump Cuts Harvard's $9 Billion Funding, EU Lures U.S. Scientists with $500M Program
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The Trump administration's actions against Harvard University have escalated, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon sending a letter to Harvard's President Alan Garber, warning that the university will not receive federal funding until it complies with the administration's demands. The letter, criticized for its grammatical errors, accuses Harvard of violating federal law and ethical standards, particularly in its handling of antisemitism on campus. Harvard faces a $9 billion question regarding its future without federal research grants, following a $2.2 billion freeze in April.
Harvard is grappling with significant challenges due to these funding cuts, which threaten to reduce its research capabilities and workforce. Among the affected projects is a $12M prevention program studying near-fatal food allergies in high-risk infants at Harvard Medical School. The university's leaders are considering their options, which include continuing to fight the administration's demands or seeking a compromise. This situation has raised concerns about the future of academic freedom and the potential for Harvard, a 388-year-old establishment, to lose its pre-eminence in research, especially after being forced to adopt a remedial math program for undergraduates.
Amidst these tensions, Europe is actively seeking to attract U.S. scientists and researchers affected by the Trump administration's policies. The European Union has launched the 'Choose Europe for Science' program, investing over $500 million between 2025 and 2027 to recruit researchers, particularly from the United States. Additionally, Europe has pledged €600 million to lure foreign researchers and protect scientific freedom. This initiative is part of a broader effort to capitalize on the current upheaval in U.S. science funding.
The situation at Harvard has sparked a debate about the role of federal funding in academia. Critics argue that the Trump administration's moves are part of a broader attack on higher education and scientific research, potentially leading to a brain drain from the U.S. to Europe and other regions.
Ab Fab convo w/ @nickgillespie & @sapinker on what has happened at Harvard & how to fix it.
One insight among many:
To most academics, "academic freedom" means the faculty runs the university & controls what they think is true (vs. viewpoint diversity).
https://t.co/oLfXZJt1Pb
'It's clear universities use this crucial source of revenue while turning a blind eye to the ethical dilemmas of being dependent on a regime like China!'
@GoodwinMJ speaks with Hong Kong Watch's Benedict Rogers about the amount of money being brought in by Chinese students. https://t.co/MW1rND8IGp
The Trump administration has blocked funding for research across the US Environmental Protection Agency’s main science division, according to sources inside the agency and internal e-mails seen by Nature.
https://t.co/VvA8vMNs6H
