- Harvard officials warned the institute’s research on life-saving treatments and the lives of the animals involved in a study are in jeopardy due to a federal funding freeze by the Trump administration. The administration announced it was halting billions of dollars in funding to the university over its response to 2024 campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
- Harvard professors said an end to federal funding may mean programs focusing on treatments for diseases like ALS and tuberculosis are in jeopardy.
- University officials said the loss of federal funds may result in job losses.
Full Story
Harvard professors warn that the Trump administration’s freeze on more than $2.2 billion in funding may force the university to euthanize animals, end life-saving research and slash jobs. The federal funds freeze comes after Harvard refused the White House’s demand to alter its hiring and academic policies.
Which programs are now in jeopardy?
Professors told CNN, the loss of funding means critical research on tuberculosis spanning more than a decade is in limbo, as well as the lives of the primates involved in the vaccine study.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
The head of the study, Harvard Professor Sarah Fortune, said she received a stop-work order this week, and is working to save the animals, while holding out hope another funding source comes along for the program to continue.
How does this add to Harvard’s recent issues?
As Straight Arrow News reported, the Ivy League institution is already reeling from cuts to federal funding. On Wednesday, April 16, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the Trump administration was canceling a pair of grants to Harvard worth roughly $2.7 billion. One grant funded violence prevention research, while the other funded a study on public health messaging.
Why is the Trump administration targeting Harvard?
The Trump administration said the cuts are due to campus demonstrations in the summer of 2024 over Israel’s war in Gaza. The administration called the protests antisemitic, accused protesters of supporting Hamas and also criticized Harvard over what it deemed a lack of international visa oversight.
Noem gave Harvard an April 30 deadline to release detailed documentation of “illegal and violent activities” by foreign students with visas. Harvard officials contend they are addressing antisemitism on campus while maintaining free speech rights on campus.
What else is at stake?
Researchers at Harvard Medical School also said they have been impacted by the cuts. According to the student-run publication, The Harvard Crimson, federal funds support 75% of the school’s research. Officials at the medical school have alerted employees to prepare for staff reductions and cuts to programs.
CNN reported, the halt on federal funding is jeopardizing research on combatting the effects of radiation therapy for cancer patients and could aid in reducing harm to people in the case of nuclear fallout.
What are critics saying?
One professor working on early diagnosis and treatment of ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, said he’s also received a stop-work order for his research and funding for his grant to study the disease was canceled.
“This cancellation will cost lives,” he told CNN.
In addition to the spending freeze, the Internal Revenue Service is reportedly looking into plans to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status following a request from President Donald Trump.