Harvard University is reportedly in the middle of difficult negotiations with the Trump administration, as it seeks to resolve a dispute over frozen federal funding and international student policies without compromising its institutional values. The New York Times reported that the university is actively considering how to strike a deal with the administration without appearing to have capitulated.
The Trump administration has frozen over $2 billion in grants and contracts for Harvard, and has also proposed a ban on international students, a policy that a Massachusetts judge temporarily blocked, citing potential harm to the university. Harvard’s internal discussions are reportedly focused on how to navigate these negotiations without compromising its principles.
Trump has hinted that an agreement on international student policies might be announced within a week, but Harvard’s leadership and faculty are wary of the potential implications of any deal. Former Harvard president Lawrence Summers noted that a deal with the administration should not be seen as a surrender, but rather as an opportunity to address certain issues while maintaining independence.
The university’s president, Alan Garber, has acknowledged the university’s challenges with viewpoint diversity on campus, but Harvard remains committed to its academic mission. The situation highlights the complex relationship between elite institutions and political power, as Harvard seeks to protect its reputation while engaging in sensitive negotiations.