Harvard may lose ability to enroll foreign students, warns Trump administration

Columbia University is trying to recover about $400 million in federal grants and contracts after accepting demands from the Trump administration. The university’s decision followed widespread protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The administration accused Columbia of not doing enough to prevent antisemitic incidents on campus.

As part of its concessions, Columbia agreed to new oversight for its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies Department, strengthened campus security, and introduced stricter protest and disciplinary policies. The decision has concerned many academic leaders, who see it as a compromise on institutional autonomy.

Funding Loss: $400 million
Response: Complied with federal demands
Changes Made:
- New oversight for Middle Eastern studies
- Tighter protest rules
- Strengthened campus security

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Brown University has been informed that it could lose up to $510 million in federal funding. The Trump administration has linked its decision to claims that Brown is not doing enough to address antisemitism on campus.

However, the exact reasons and evidence behind the decision have not been made public. The university’s response to the potential funding cuts has not been detailed, but it remains one of several elite institutions under close government scrutiny.

Federal Funds at Risk: $510 million
Reason for Targeting: Not specified in detail but broadly aligned with claims of tolerating antisemitism
Response: Not publicly specified
Current Status: Under scrutiny; outcome uncertain

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Cornell University is facing the risk of losing at least $1 billion in federal support. Like other universities on the list, Cornell has been accused of failing to adequately respond to antisemitism and ideological bias.

The government has not specified which programs are affected. Cornell has not made a public response regarding the funding threat or its compliance with any federal demands. The situation remains fluid as discussions continue between campus administrators and federal agencies.

Federal Funds at Risk: At least $1 billion
Reason for Targeting: Similar broad allegations of antisemitism and ideological issues
Response: Not publicly detailed
Current Status: Awaiting further developments

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Northwestern University may lose up to $790 million in federal funding. The school had already implemented steps to address antisemitism, closely matching the demands made to Columbia University.

Despite this, it was still added to the list of targeted universities. School officials have expressed confusion over the decision and said they were not given advance warning. The administration’s move has raised questions about the consistency and fairness of how schools are being assessed.

Federal Funds at Risk: $790 million
Reason for Targeting: Confused educators; school had already implemented measures similar to those demanded of Columbia
Response: Officials expressed confusion; measures already in place to combat antisemitism
Current Status: Funding still at risk

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The University of Pennsylvania had $175 million in federal funds suspended. The action was tied to the university’s handling of a transgender athlete’s participation in sports in 2022, not recent campus protests.

Penn said the suspension affected researchers across at least seven schools. President J. Larry Jameson said that the affected research covered topics such as drug screening, hospital-acquired infections, quantum computing, and student loan programs. The university has not confirmed whether it will meet any federal demands to restore the funding.

Federal Funds Suspended: $175 million
Reason for Targeting: Linked to a 2022 controversy over transgender athlete participation
Response: Affected research across seven schools, including projects on:
- Hospital infection prevention
- Virus drug screening
- Quantum computing
- Chemical warfare protections
- Student loan programs

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Princeton University has said that dozens of its grants have been suspended and that $210 million in federal funds is at risk. The Trump administration included Princeton in its list of universities under investigation for allegedly tolerating antisemitism. While the university has not disclosed which grants were affected or how it plans to respond, it remains under pressure as the federal review continues.

Federal Funds at Risk: $210 million
Grants Suspended: “Dozens,” according to the university
Reason for Targeting: Part of the administration’s broader antisemitism-related scrutiny
Response: Not fully detailed publicly
Current Status: Facing funding uncertainty

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Beyond the seven institutions named publicly, the Trump administration’s task force is focusing on 10 universities, including Columbia, Harvard, Northwestern, and several University of California campuses.

Task Force Focus: 10 universities highlighted
- Columbia
- George Washington University
- Harvard
- Johns Hopkins University
- New York University
- Northwestern
- UC Berkeley
- UCLA
- University of Minnesota
- USC

All of these schools are in Democratic-leaning states or Washington, D.C. They have been accused of failing to control antisemitic incidents or promoting ideological bias. Investigations are ongoing, and funding for these schools could also be at risk.

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The Trump administration has said its actions are a response to rising antisemitism on college campuses. However, critics argue that the move is part of a broader ideological campaign against what some conservatives see as liberal dominance in higher education.

The administration has expressed opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and has raised concerns about a lack of political viewpoint diversity among faculty members. Many of the targeted universities are viewed by conservatives as promoting “wokeness” rather than academic neutrality.

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Since World War II, U.S. universities have relied on federal funds for research in areas like public health, defense, and technology. Although elite universities have large endowments, much of the money is restricted by donor conditions.

The administration’s funding cuts have affected critical programs, including those related to national security, healthcare, and scientific innovation. University leaders have warned that the cuts could damage not just their institutions, but also the country’s long-term competitiveness and social progress.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in Fox News that, “American visas are a privilege, not a right.” He explained that US consular officers are required to enforce visa laws strictly under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Visas can be revoked for reasons including overstaying, engaging in unauthorized work, violent crimes, drunk driving, or supporting terrorist groups.

International students are reporting sudden cancellations of their student visas. These revocations, sometimes executed within hours, remove the student’s status from the SEVIS system without notifying the university beforehand. The student is later informed by email. Offenses as minor as past drunk driving incidents can trigger revocation.

US authorities rejected 2.79 lakh F-1 student visa applications in 2023-24, amounting to a 41% denial rate—the highest in a decade. In comparison, 2.53 lakh applications were denied the previous year, when the rejection rate was 36%.

The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows international students to work in the US after graduation, is under threat. The ‘Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025’ has been introduced in Congress to end the program. Critics argue that OPT lacks Congressional approval and should be scrapped.

Students who transition from F-1 visas to H-1B employment visas are vulnerable if their legal status is suddenly revoked. This may affect employment, as a valid visa is required to continue working in the US.

US immigration authorities have warned Green Card holders, H-1B workers, and students against traveling outside the country. Elderly Indian Green Card holders have been reportedly pressured to relinquish residency status upon re-entry.

Visa applicants’ online activities are now being monitored. Secretary Rubio has directed officials to examine social media posts for any violations of US laws, with certain types of content potentially leading to visa denial.

Green card interviews for spouses of US citizens or permanent residents are becoming more rigorous. Officers are now probing deeper into the relationship's legitimacy, including how the couple met and their future plans.

The visa interview waiver period has been shortened from 48 months to 12 months. As a result, more applicants must attend in-person interviews, leading to longer wait times. This affects H-1B extensions and F-1 to H-1B status changes the most.