Trump’s war with Harvard: A timeline of everything that’s happened so far
For around six months, Harvard University has been in near-constant battle with the administration of President Donald Trump.
From nearly $3 billion in federal funding cuts to attacks on international students , the feud has been multi-pronged and complicated.
While Harvard has had some big wins thus far, including a federal judge ordering the Trump administration to reinstate the university's federal dollars, the fight between the two hasn't shown any signs of letting up.
Here's a timeline from when the Trump administration began investigating Harvard earlier this year through the latest.
An investigation into higher ed
March 10:The Trump administration investigated 60 schools nationwide for purported antisemitism, including Harvard and five other Massachusetts colleges and universities.
Harvard implements hiring freeze
March 10:Harvard announced a temporary hiring freeze following the Trump administration pulling $400 million from Columbia University in reaction to the Ivy League school's failure to squelch antisemitism on campus.
Focus shifts to Harvard
March 31:The Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and the U.S. General Services Administration announced that they would review federal contracts and grants at Harvard. This was part of the Trump administration's efforts led by the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. Harvard was a prime target for this effort due to pro-Palestine encampment and activism based there.
The task force said it would review $255.6 million in contracts and more than $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments to Harvard and affiliates.
Demands from the Trump admin
April 3 and 11:The Trump administration demanded an overhaul of Harvard's leadership structure, admissions and hiring. The government said that if the university didn't comply, it would risk losing $9 billion in funding. The April 11 letter expanded upon the one sent on April 3.
Harvard plans to borrow money
April 7:Harvard said it would borrow $750 million of taxable bonds for "general corporate purposes."
Student visas are revoked en masse across U.S.
April 6/Beginning of April:Harvard, along with several other Massachusetts institutions, experienced the revocation of multiple student visas or their legal status through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System database (SEVIS) as part of a nationwide trend.
The status of international students' visas is tracked through the SEVIS database. A SEVIS legal status allows a foreign student to remain in the United States, while a student visa allows a person to study in the country.
Harvard faculty union sues Trump admin
April 11:The American Association of University Professors sued the Trump administration over cuts to federal funding, claiming the federal government is undermining the institution's academic freedom.
Harvard responds to Trump admin demands
April 14:Harvard rejected the Trump administration's demands focused on the overhaul of Harvard's leadership structure, admissions and hiring.
President Alan Garber said the administration's demands go "beyond the power of the federal government," violate Harvard's First Amendment rights and are over "the statutory limits of the government's authority under Title VI."
Consequences of resistance
April 15:A day after the school refused to comply with its demands for a major overhaul, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard.
April 16:President Donald Trump posts to Truth Social , threatening the tax-exempt status of Harvard. Trump later doubled down on this threat on May 2, when he wrote, "it is what they deserve."
The Trump administration requested that a top Internal Revenue Service official rescind Harvard's tax-exempt status , according to reporting from The Washington Post.
April 16:The Department of Homeland Security required the institution to submit detailed records of foreign students' visa holders' "illegal and violent activities" before the end of the month or face the immediate loss of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.
SEVP allows higher education institutions to issue visa application forms to prospective international students after admitting them. The forms are used to apply for a visa to enter the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also stated that two grants amounting to over $2.7 million to the institution had been canceled due to Harvard being "unfit to be entrusted with taxpayer dollars."
April 17:The U.S. Department of Education sent Harvard University a records request , demanding that the institution disclose foreign investments.
Harvard's donations surge
April 14-16:Harvard experienced a surge in donations after the resistance to the Trump administration, according to reporting from The Harvard Crimson .
Trump admin demands Harvard report its foreign investments
April 17:The U.S. Department of Education sent Harvard a records request, demanding that the institution disclose foreign investments. A Harvard spokesperson said the university already has disclosed them.
Trump admin backtracks on demands
April 18:Trump administration officials claimed the letter sent to Harvard on April 11, issuing a series of demands, was sent by mistake , according to a New York Times report .
Harvard's first lawsuit
April 21:Harvard filed its first lawsuit in Boston federal court against the Trump administration over what was, at the time, $2.2 billion in funding freezes.
April 22:Harvard's president joined a list of hundreds of presidents pushing back against "government overreach and political interference" by the Trump administration.
Trump admin says it will restore all terminated student visas and statuses
April 25:The Trump administration reversed course on the revocation of student visas and statuses at higher education institutions across the country.
Investigations into Harvard
April 25:The Trump administration announced that it would investigate whether Harvard may have violated Title VII, a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination.
April 27:Federal officials launched investigations of the Harvard Law Review "based on reports of race-based discrimination permeating the operations of the journal."
Harvard changes admissions policy for foreign students
April 27:Harvard announced that admitted international students at Harvard would be allowed to accept admission at a foreign institution in addition to Harvard — as a "backup plan."
The university renames its DEI office
April 28:Harvard renamed its "Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging" to "Community and Campus Life" following demands from the Trump administration to stop DEI practices. This draws backlash .
No merit raises, pauses on spending at Harvard
April 28:Harvard announced that non-union faculty and staff wouldn't receive merit pay increases for the upcoming fiscal year and there would be pauses on non-essential capital projects and spending.
Harvard task force reports reveal discrimination, hate on campus
April 29:Two long-awaited reports from Harvard's task forces on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias and anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian bias were released .
"The 2023-24 academic year was disappointing and painful. I am sorry for the moments when we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set for our community. The grave, extensive impact of the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel and its aftermath had serious repercussions on our campus‚" Garber said.
Harvard hands over information to Trump admin
May 1:Harvard handed over "information required by law" about foreign students' illegal activity and records to the Department of Homeland Security, according to an email sent to the Harvard community.
Faculty pledge to donate 10% of their salaries
May 1:More than 80 faculty members pledged to donate 10% of their salaries to support the institution as it endured attacks from the Trump administration, according to the Harvard Crimson .
Harvard is barred from receiving new federal grants
May 5:Education Secretary Linda McMahon barred Harvard from acquiring new federal grants due to the university pushing against the federal government's demands for change on campus.
Institution-wide termination notices of federal grants
May 6:Harvard received "institution-wide termination notices for various agencies," including from the National Institutes of Health, terminating all of Harvard's grant funding based on "the University's unwillingness to take corrective action or implement necessary reforms," according to legal documents.
May 9:The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent Harvard a letter announcing the termination of awards.
May 12:The U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Science Foundation canceled grants to Harvard.
A grant from the Department of Defense was later paid by the Trump administration after pleas from an official to maintain the grant for national security purposes.
Harvard responds to McMahon
May 12:Garber, Harvard's president, responded to McMahon barring Harvard from acquiring new federal grants in a letter. He said the federal government's actions are "undetermined and threatened by the federal government's overreach into the constitutional freedoms of private universities and its continuing disregard of Harvard's compliance with the law."
Harvard amends its lawsuit
May 13:Harvard amended its lawsuit , arguing that its constitutional rights were violated by the government's threats to pull billions of dollars in funding if the school did not comply with demands for an overhaul.
More federal funding freezes
May 13:The Trump administration announced another round of funding cuts to Harvard, this time amounting to $450 million in grants on top of the $2.2 billion already frozen . Eight federal agencies were involved in the termination of the grants.
May 15:The Department of Energy terminated $89 million in grant funding at Harvard.
Harvard's president takes a voluntary pay cut
May 14:Garber said he would take a voluntary 25% pay cut .
Harvard asks for donations
May 19:Harvard's president asked for help through donations to its new Presidential Priorities Fund.
Some of Harvard's schools, including its School of Public Health, also took to social media to ask for donations.
More federal funding cuts
May 19:The United States Department of Health and Human Services cut $60 million in grants from Harvard.
Harvard is accused of working with the Chinese Communist Party
May 20:The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party accused Harvard of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party.
Revoking Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students
May 22:The Trump administration revoked Harvard's SEVP certification , the key certification that allows Harvard's international students to study there.
Harvard files a second lawsuit
May 23:Less than 24 hours after the Trump administration's revocation of the certification, the institution filed a second lawsuit against the administration, stating that a motion for a temporary restraining order will follow.
"We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action. It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams," Garber said.
May 23:That day, a federal judge granted the temporary restraining order.
Trump demands a list of international students at Harvard
May 26:Trump took to Truth Social to demand that Harvard provide the "names and countries" of international students or lose federal funding.
He also threatened to take $3 billion in grants from Harvard to give to trade schools.
Trump admin looks to more federal funding cuts at Harvard
May 27:The U.S. General Services Administration sent a letter directing federal agencies to identify if any Harvard contracts can be canceled or redirected.
Trump admin orders halt to student visa applicant interviews, increased vetting of Harvard
May 27:The Trump administration ordered U.S. embassies to stop scheduling interviews for student visa applicants while it developed a new process for vetting international students' social media profiles.
May 30:The U.S. State Department ordered stricter vetting for Harvard visa applicants.
Trump suggests a cap on international students at Harvard
May 28:Trump suggested a 15% cap on international students at Harvard during a conversation with reporters at the Oval Office.
Federal judge backs Harvard in court
May 29:A federal judge announced her intent to issue a preliminary injunction, accepting Harvard's argument that the school and students would be harmed if international students were barred from campus.
Further attacks on international students
June 4:Trump signed a proclamation , barring Harvard's international students from entering the country.
He also directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider stopping the processing of Harvard student visas.
Harvard is once again backed in court
June 5:A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order , blocking the Trump administration's attempt to bar Harvard foreign students from entering the country to study at Harvard.
Resuming Harvard visa applications
June 6:The U.S. State Department resumed processing Harvard's student and exchange visitor visas.
Investigation into Harvard's hiring practices
June 10:The U.S. Committee on Education and Workforce requested information about Harvard's hiring policies as part of an investigation into whether Harvard had engaged in discriminatory hiring practices.
A deal in sight?
June 20:Trump said he is working on a "'mindbogglingly' HISTORIC" deal with Harvard. This has yet to occur.
Columbia University reached a deal for over $220 million with the Trump administration on July 23, following in the footsteps of the University of Pennsylvania on July 1. Brown University also agreed to a deal for $50 million at the end of July.
Harvard Kennedy School offers foreign students the option to study online or in Canada
June 24:Harvard Kennedy School offered international students the option to study online or attend the University of Toronto for those who are unable to come to the United States.
Harvard is subpoenaed in Ivy League tuition price-fixing investigation
June 26:Harvard was sent a subpoena , requiring the institution to provide additional documents and communications related to an investigation into Ivy League institutions raising tuition prices and "price discrimination by offering selective financial aid packages to maximize profits."
Harvard extends waitlist decisions
June 27:Harvard College, Harvard University's undergraduate branch, extended its waitlist decisions into the summer due to the "ongoing situation regarding international students."
Trump admin threatens to cut all funding from Harvard
June 30:The Trump administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism issued a finding that Harvard was in "violent violation" of Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin.
As a result, if the university didn't "institute adequate changes immediately," it could face a cut to all federal funding, the federal task force said.
Harvard's accreditation is threatened
July 9:The Trump administration threatened Harvard's accreditation due to its failure to respond to campus antisemitism, finding that it is in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws.
Another investigation into Harvard
July 23:The U.S. Department of State opened an investigation into Harvard's eligibility as a sponsor for the Exchange Visitor Program.
Trump admin brings Harvard antisemitism case to Justice Dept.
July 30:The Department of Health and Human Services referred its antisemitism investigation into Harvard to the Department of Justice, calling its discussions with the institution "fruitless."
Harvard is open to a $500 million settlement
July 28:A New York Times investigation revealed that Harvard was open to a potential $500 million settlement as a means of ending the months-long battle with the Trump administration.
Harvard's patents under attack
Aug. 8:The Trump administration threatened to take over Harvard's patents , determining that the university has "failed to live up to its obligations to the American taxpayer."
Trump admin asks judge to dismiss foreign student lawsuit
Aug. 8:The Trump administration asked a federal judge to dismiss Harvard University's lawsuit over international students, claiming the students "present serious national security and public safety risks."
Thousands tell Harvard 'do not give in'
Aug. 14:Over 14,000 students, alumni, faculty and members of the public urged the university in a letter not to "succumb to the illegal demands" that may be part of a deal with the Trump administration.
Harvard Kennedy School walks back remote option for international students
Aug. 20:Harvard Kennedy School walked back a contingency plan offered to international students in June due to a lack of student interest. The plan had allowed students to study online if they were unable to come to the U.S.
The school still offered students the opportunity to study at the University of Toronto, which a "small number" of returning international students chose.
Limits for how long foreign students can stay in the U.S.
Aug. 27:The Department of Homeland Security planned to limit the length an international student can stay in the U.S. A proposed rule limiting international student stays was made the following day.
Trump wants at least $500 million in a settlement with Harvard
Aug. 26:During a cabinet meeting , Trump publicly called for Harvard University to pay at least $500 million in a settlement to restore nearly $3 billion of its federal funding.
"We want nothing less than $500 million from Harvard," Trump told U.S. Secretary of Education McMahon.
"Don't negotiate, Linda. They've been very bad," he continued.
A big court win for Harvard
Sept. 3:A federal judge sided with Harvard in its lawsuit about nearly $3 billion in cuts in federal funding. Her decision will likely be appealed.
Criticism from former Harvard president Claudine Gay
Sept. 3:Former Harvard president, who stepped down in Jan. 2024, described Harvard's current approach with the Trump administration as one of "compliance."
Harvard Medical School to cut research expenses
Sept. 17:Harvard Medical School announced it will cut its research expenses by at least 20% by the end of the fiscal year.
Federal funding starts back up at Harvard
Sept. 19:$46 million in research funding was restored at Harvard through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, part of the nearly $3 billion in research funding that was previously canceled in the name of campus antisemitism.
Trump admin claims Harvard is refusing to provide admissions info
Sept. 19:The Trump administration issued Harvard a denial of access letter, accusing the institution of refusing to provide documents and information on its admissions.
Trump admin raises concerns about Harvard's finances
Sept. 19:The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid places Harvard on heightened cash monitoring status due to growing concerns about the university's financial position. The university remains the wealthiest in the world.
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