President Trump is instructing federal agencies to identify and sever remaining contracts with Harvard University, further tightening the screws in the fight with the Ivy League institution.
The letter from the General Services Administration (GSA) asks all federal agencies to help in a review to terminate or transition federal government contracts with Harvard and its affiliates. A copy of the letter was shared with The Hill by a source familiar with the matter.
The letter accuses Harvard of engaging in racial discrimination, justifying the termination of contracts.
“As relevant here, GSA understands that Harvard continues to engage in race discrimination, including in its admissions process and in other areas of student life,” the letter states, pointing to statistics on Harvard’s enrollment.
It also accused Harvard of discrimination in its hiring and promotion and of “anti-Semitic” actions, an apparent reference to pro-Palestinian protests.
“Harvard’s ongoing inaction in the face of repeated and severe harassment and targeting of its students has at times grounded day-to-day campus operations to a halt, deprived Jewish students of learning and research opportunities to which they are entitled, and profoundly alarmed the general public,” it stated.
Josh Gruenbaum, the commissioner of the GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, signed the letter.
“We recommend that your agency terminate for convenience each contract that it determines has failed to meet its standards, and transition to a new vendor those contracts that could be better serviced by an alternative counterparty,” Gruenbaum wrote.
“Going forward, we also encourage your agency to seek alternative vendors for future services where you had previously considered Harvard,” he added.
The Hill has reached out to Harvard for comment.
The development marks a continuation of the administration’s war with the elite school. The federal government has terminated nearly $3 billion in grants to Harvard, saying the school has not done enough to combat antisemitism on campus and “race discrimination.”
It also comes after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification to be revoked last week, therefore preventing the school from enrolling international students. Harvard sued the Trump administration in response.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs temporarily blocked the Homeland Security action Friday.
Trump wrote Monday that he is considering taking $3 billion of grant money from the Ivy League school and giving it to trade schools around the country.
In the Oval Office Friday, the president said, “Harvard’s going to have to change its ways.”
Harvard became the primary target of the administration after it refused to bow to demands to change its hiring and admissions policies, as well as eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs on campus.
University President Alan Garber warned the funding cuts to Harvard will have devastating effects to the entire country, stifling medical and technological advances.
“Indiscriminately slashing medical, scientific, and technological research undermines the nation’s ability to save American lives, foster American success, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation,” Garber said.
While Harvard has been on the front line of the higher education fight, Trump has made clear these are also warning shots for other universities.
“We’re taking a look at a lot of things,” he said when asked if he was also considering taking away the ability of other schools to accept foreign students.
Updated at 9:56 a.m. EDT