Harvard President Alan Garber reflected on the university’s fight with the Trump administration in an interview with NPR, finding the numerous actions of the federal government “perplexing.”
NPR’s Steve Inskeep asked if it was true when Garber said the Trump administration seems concerned about a lack of viewpoint diversity on Harvard’s campus.
“I think that we have heard from some people that they do feel that way. What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these that don’t even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems,” Garber said.
“Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country because after all, the research funding is not a gift,” he added.
The Trump administration has cut off almost $3 billion in research funding to the schools, which Harvard has sued over, stopped any new research grants from going to Harvard and instructing all federal agencies to cut off remaining contracts with the university.
In another legal battle, Harvard is fighting the Trump administration after the federal government said the university could no longer accept foreign students and all current international students have to either transfer schools or leave the country.
Inskeep asked Garber is he thinks the Trump administration wants to “damage, destroy or capture” Harvard.
“I don’t know fully what the motivations are, but I do know that there are people who are fighting a cultural battle. I don’t know if that is what is driving the administration. They don’t like what’s happened to campuses, and sometimes they don’t like what we represent,” the president said.
The Trump administration has indicated it will not stop with Harvard, with President Trump recently saying “we’re taking a look at a lot of things” when asked if other schools could lose their ability to admit international students.
When asked what his warning would be to other schools, Garber said “we need to be firm in our commitments to what we stand for.”
“So, number one, I think we all need to redouble our commitment to the good of the nation and the world. And I know my fellow leaders fully embrace that,” he added.