Member-only story
Higher Education Cannot Be a Battlefield
What happens when universities are forced to choose between funding and freedom?
Institutional independence is collapsing under pressure. During the Trump administration, Harvard University became the latest target in a campaign that blurred the line between policy oversight and political punishment.
According to Reuters, Harvard’s refusal to comply with sweeping demands including federal input on hiring, admissions, curriculum, and recognition of student groups…and this has triggered retaliation.
Access to $2.3 billion in federal contracts was abruptly cut and the university’s nonprofit status and its ability to enroll international students were immediately questioned.
Dialogue was replaced with directives. Pressure became policy.
Oversight or Control?
Government accountability should never become a weapon. Yet a disturbing precedent is unfolding: when institutions resist federal alignment, they are punished. Oversight transforms into coercion.
One of the most concerning demands came from the Department of Homeland Security, which called on Harvard to monitor and report international students for violating university policies. The request was not tied to…
