US cuts over 2.7 million dollar in grants to Harvard, threatens foreign student ban

New York/Washington: In a sharp escalation of tensions with Harvard University, the US Department of Homeland Security has revoked over USD 2.7 million in federal grants, citing concerns over the university's handling of international students and its campus climate.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the cancellation of two key DHS grants, totaling more than USD 2.7 million. These included the Implementation Science for Targeted Violence Prevention program and the Blue Campaign Program Evaluation and Violence Advisement initiative. The department described Harvard as unfit to be entrusted with taxpayer dollars and accused the university of enabling antisemitic activity and extremist ideology.

This funding cut follows an earlier USD 2.2 billion federal funding freeze, imposed after Harvard refused to meet a set of demands from the Trump administration. The government has also proposed revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, criticising what it calls a radical and anti-American academic environment.

Alongside the grant cancellations, DHS issued a warning demanding that Harvard submit by April 30, 2025, detailed records of any illegal or violent activity involving foreign student visa holders. If the university fails to comply, it could lose its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which would prevent it from enrolling international students.

International students currently account for 27.2 percent of Harvard’s student body, with 6,793 enrolled in the 2024–25 academic year. The DHS statement emphasised that with Harvard’s USD 53.2 billion endowment, the university is capable of funding its own operations without federal support.