President Trump announced a proposal on Monday to redirect $3 billion in funding from Harvard University to vocational schools. In a post on his social media platform, he described the university as "very antisemitic" and expressed his intention to allocate the funds to trade schools nationwide.
The statement, part of the president's Memorial Day messages, did not indicate a new funding cut but referred to money that the administration had previously frozen or removed from Harvard and its research affiliates.
Details regarding the implementation of this plan were not provided by Mr. Trump. The post also included accusations against Harvard for its delayed responses to the administration's inquiries regarding “foreign student lists,” which he claimed were necessary to assess the re-entry of certain international students into the country.
The remarks appear to be part of an ongoing public relations effort against Harvard, which is currently involved in a legal dispute with the White House over claims that the university fosters antisemitism and promotes liberal ideologies.
Harvard declined to comment on the president's statements. The university is contesting in federal court the administration's decision to freeze over $3 billion in grants and contracts, while also opposing a plan to revoke its ability to admit international students.
Clarification on the term “foreign student lists” was not provided, although the federal government already maintains databases containing information about the approximately 6,800 international students enrolled at Harvard. Requests for disciplinary records and video documentation of student protests have been partially fulfilled by the university.
The frozen funding primarily pertains to research grants for public health studies, especially impacting the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which has been involved in important research on diseases such as tuberculosis and multiple sclerosis.
Trade schools, which focus on practical skills like automotive repair and cosmetology, do not typically engage in advanced scientific research. Jason Altmire, who leads a trade school association, endorsed Mr. Trump's proposal but emphasized the importance of reducing regulatory burdens on trade institutions.
During his 2023 campaign, Mr. Trump had referenced plans to generate revenue by taxing large university endowments to create an initiative called the American Academy, aimed at providing free educational resources to Americans. He reiterated that the proposed academy would remain nonpolitical and free from ideologies deemed inappropriate.
As of now, no concrete plan for the American Academy has been established, and details regarding its development remain unclear.