White House pushes back criticism from US universities over federal oversight

The White House on Tuesday dismissed a joint statement issued by over 100 US universities and colleges that accused the Trump administration of political interference in academic affairs. The institutions released the letter in response to recent federal actions targeting campus policies and research funding.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said, “The president has made it quite clear that it's Harvard who has put themselves in a position to lose their own funding by not obeying federal law, and we expect all colleges and universities who are receiving taxpayer funds to abide by federal law.”

The universities, including Harvard, Princeton, and Brown, stated that they opposed “unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.” The letter clarified that the institutions support legitimate oversight but reject what they described as coercive use of federal funding to shape academic practices.


The public exchange follows Harvard University’s legal challenge against the administration’s decision to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding. The university’s lawsuit calls for the funding restrictions to be declared unlawful and seeks reimbursement of legal costs.

The administration’s actions, which include threats to withhold federal funds and review diversity and hiring policies, have been presented as efforts to combat campus anti-Semitism and ensure compliance with federal laws. The White House has also criticized how universities responded to recent protests linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict.


Leavitt said the administration “will be responding to the lawsuit in court,” and added, “Trump is not going to tolerate illegal harassment and violence towards Jewish American students or students of any faith on our campuses across the country.”

The Department of Homeland Security has warned Harvard that its ability to enrol international students could be restricted unless it submits records on visa holders’ suspected involvement in unlawful activities. International students made up 27.2% of Harvard’s enrolment this academic year, according to the university.

The dispute reflects growing tensions between federal authority and university independence, raising broader questions about the future of academic governance in the United States.

(With inputs from AFP)