President Donald Trump on Wednesday, May 28, suggested that Harvard University reduce the number of international students it enrolls. Currently, roughly 27% of Harvard’s student body is made up of foreign students.
Trump said that number should be closer to 15%.
“These countries aren’t helping us. They’re not investing in Harvard. We are,” Trump said at the Oval Office during the swearing in of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. “So why 31%? Why a number so big? Number one, I think they should have a cap of maybe 15%, not 31%. We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools, but they can’t get in because we have foreign students there.”
The Trump administration said Harvard recently failed to provide a sufficient list of international students enrolled at the university. This request came as a federal task force on antisemitism investigates students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses.
The administration ordered Harvard to stop enrolling international students. Harvard responded with a lawsuit, and a judge temporarily blocked the administration’s directive.
$2.65 billion in federal funds to Harvard frozen
The feud between Harvard and the Trump administration is centered on allegations of antisemitism and claims that the university is not complying with an executive order to eliminate DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs.
As a result, $2.65 billion in federal funds to Harvard have been frozen. Harvard is suing over that freeze separately.
The Trump administration is also considering redirecting an additional $100 million in federal contracts away from Harvard.
During his remarks at the White House event, Trump referenced reports about potentially allocating money for Harvard to trade schools. “I’d rather see that money go to trade schools,” Trump said.
“Everyone’s coming up to me saying we love the idea of trade schools,” he added. “With that kind of money — and money from others, but money from them — you can have the best trade schools anywhere in the world.”
Harvard responds to legal battle and funding freeze
Harvard President Alan Garber spoke Tuesday, May 27, in an interview with NPR about the university’s legal dispute with the Trump administration.
“What is perplexing is the measures they have taken to address these (issues) that don’t even hit the same people they believe are causing the problems,” Garber said. “Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country.”
While federal funding remains frozen, Garber said Harvard is now using $250 million from its reserves to fund research projects typically covered by government grants. Garber also took a 25% pay cut due to the university’s financial constraints.
The litigation between Harvard and the White House is ongoing. Last week, a judge allowed Harvard to continue enrolling international students while the case moves forward.
The judge is expected to decide whether to extend that ruling at a hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 29.
