The Trump administration has informed Cambridge, Mass.-based Harvard University that it will no longer provide federal research grants after federal agencies conducted a “comprehensive review” in late March of its nearly $9 billion in federal grants and contracts.
In a May 5 letter to the university, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon wrote, “Harvard should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided.”
Ms. McMahon detailed how the university has “invited foreign students, who engage in violent behavior and show contempt” toward the U.S. She also said the university has failed to abide by a Supreme Court ruling to end racial preferencing.
“Harvard will cease to be a publicly funded institution, and can instead operate as a privately funded institution, drawing on its colossal endowment and raising money from its large base of wealthy alumni,” Ms. McMahon said. “You have an approximately $53 billion head start, much of which was made possible by the fact that you are living within the walls of, and benefiting from, the prosperity secured by the United States of America and its free-market system you teach your students to despise,” said the secretary.
The secretary’s “common-sense reforms” proposed for Harvard included a return to “merit-based admissions and hiring” and “an end to unlawful programs that promote crude identity stereotypes, disciplinary reform and consistent accountability,” according to the letter.
A spokesperson for Harvard said in a May 6 statement shared with Becker’s that the university will continue to comply with the law while also promoting and encouraging respect for viewpoint diversity and tackling antisemitism. The university also plans to continue defending against “illegal government overreach aimed at stifling research and innovation that make Americans safer and more secure.”
“Today’s letter makes new threats to illegally withhold funding for lifesaving research and innovation in retaliation against Harvard for filing its lawsuit on April 21,” the spokesperson said.
The new restrictions follow other funding freezes to Harvard. In mid-April, the Trump administration said it would freeze $2.2 billion in multiyear grants along with a $60 million contract to the university after it rejected federal demands to enact sweeping changes as a condition to maintain funding. Also in mid-April, HHS directed the National Institutes of Health to halt ongoing research grants and contract payments to five universities, including Harvard.
Three more federal health updates:
1. FDA’s top inspector abruptly resigns. Michael Rogers, associate commissioner for drug inspections and investigations at the FDA, will exit his role May 14, after 34 years with the agency, CBS News reported May 5.
Mr. Rogers resignation comes amid significant changes at the FDA, including a restructuring plan to cut 10,000 full-time federal workers across HHS agencies like the National Institutes of Health, FDA, CMS and CDC. However, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in early April that around 20% of the layoffs might be reversed.
2. Executive order restricts gain-of-function research funding. President Donald Trump signed an executive order May 5 restricting federal funding for gain-of-function research, a field involving experiments with viruses or other pathogens that have the ability to potentially trigger a pandemic, NPR reported May 5.
The order prohibits federal funding for gain-of-function research conducted in “countries of concern,” such as China, or in countries without adequate oversight to ensure they meet U.S. standards, according to the executive order.
While many scientists agree that stronger oversight is needed to address potential risks, some worry a broad ban could hinder safe research needed to prevent future pandemics, NPR reported.
3. Increasing domestic prescription drug production. President Trump also signed an executive order May 5 aimed at increasing the domestic production of prescription drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The order directs the FDA to streamline its review process and reduce timelines for approving U.S. manufacturing facilities by eliminating duplicative requirements. It also raises inspection fees for foreign manufacturing plants.
Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency has been directed to expedite the construction of facilities intended to produce prescription drugs and active ingredients.
