Former President Barack Obama has criticized the Trump administration’s freeze on $2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University, calling it “unlawful and ham-handed”. The decision was made after Harvard refused to make changes to its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices that the administration said were key to fighting antisemitism on campus.
Obama, a Harvard alum, praised the university’s decision not to concede to Trump’s demands. He wrote: “Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect.”
This move comes as the Trump administration is facing criticism from universities across the US. Yale University’s faculty members published a letter expressing their support for Harvard’s decision, citing the importance of protecting academic freedom and democratic principles.
The freeze in funding has sparked concerns among universities that may lose significant amounts of money if they refuse to comply with the administration’s demands. Harvard, however, is standing firm, with its president Alan Garber saying: “No government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0w2656x33o