Harvard University defied the Trump Administration amid ongoing demands that the university discontinue its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, reform student disciple policies, and implement a mask ban, among other requests.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email Monday afternoon for comment.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump and his administration have ripped into Ivy League institutions like Harvard and Columbia in the wake of demonstrations and protests amid Israel’s war with Hamas.

The Trump administration has accused the Ivy League universities of allowing antisemitism on campus grounds. The Trump administration also initially withheld $400 million in federal funds from Columbia and said it would not reinstate the funding if the school did not make changes to its policies.

Columbia was the epicenter of campus protests last year amid the war in the Gaza Strip. Students across the country demanded that universities and the federal government sever ties with the Israeli government to protest its military actions in Gaza.

Columbia ultimately caved to Trump‘s demands last month and announced new actions it is taking.

What To Know

In a letter dated Monday by Harvard University’s lawyers, the school hit back at the Trump administration in part saying, “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle.”

The letter added that, “Harvard remains open to dialogue about what the university has done, and is planning to do, to improve the experience of every member of its community. But Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration.”

According to CNN, there is nearly $9 billion in federal funding for Harvard University now up in the air.

A person can be seen running past Elliot House at Harvard University on March 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) A person can be seen running past Elliot House at Harvard University on March 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.