Harvard, Trump administration could reach $500M settlement: Report

ANKARA

Harvard University and the Trump administration are close to reaching a $500 million settlement, according to media reports.

The New York Times, citing four anonymous sources, reported that the settlement can result in the restoration of billions of dollars in federal research funding for Harvard.

The White House and the university representatives made progress in closed-door talks last week and began working on a settlement framework, the daily reported.

Three of the sources claimed that, under this framework, Harvard would agree—at the federal government’s request—to spend $500 million on vocational and educational programs as well as research.

Another source asserted that the university would pledge to continue its efforts to combat antisemitism on campus.

The report also claimed that if a settlement is reached, President Donald Trump's administration will end the university investigations.

Through this agreement, Harvard would regain access to research funding and avoid the appointment of a monitor condition, which the university had opposed on the grounds of protecting academic independence.

Since taking office in January, the second Trump administration has targeted several prominent universities, claiming that they continue to pursue "woke" policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), despite Trump's assertion that such policies are discriminatory and illegal. It has threatened to withdraw government funding for such universities, among other actions.

Trump has also criticized universities for allowing pro-Palestinian protests, which he alleges are antisemitic; however, these protests criticize the state of Israel rather than Jews, many of whom condemn Israel’s actions.

Countering the administration, the universities say such efforts to control them are un-American violations of free speech and academic freedom.