The US government is preparing to freeze over $500 million in grants to Brown University and impose strict conditions on Harvard University as part of an effort it claims is aimed at countering antisemitism on college campuses.
The measures follow rising tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian activism in the wake of the war in Gaza.
Brown University, which has not yet received formal notice, could lose access to significant federal research funding. A US official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the administration’s intent to block the grants, positioning Brown among several institutions facing scrutiny over campus protests and alleged tolerance of antisemitic incidents.
Harvard, meanwhile, has been issued a letter from several federal agencies detailing new terms it must meet to continue receiving government funding. These include a ban on face masks during campus demonstrations, the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and full cooperation with law enforcement. The university confirmed it had received the letter and is currently reviewing its implications.
The moves come as part of a broader review of federal funding for universities under President Donald Trump’s administration. This includes a reported $9 billion in contracts and grants to Harvard and the recent suspension of $400 million in funding for Columbia University, which agreed to changes in order to negotiate restoration of those funds.
The White House’s actions follow widespread protests over the war in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed and large portions of the territory reduced to rubble. Trump has labeled campus demonstrations as antisemitic and has characterized many of the protesters as Hamas sympathizers, fueling debate about free speech and the limits of protest on college campuses.
Students and rights groups, including Jewish organizations, have pushed back strongly against the administration’s stance, saying criticism of Israel’s actions and support for Palestinian rights should not be equated with antisemitism. They argue the measures represent an attempt to stifle legitimate dissent and chill academic freedom.
In response to the growing pressure, Harvard announced disciplinary action against the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, placing it on probation and barring it from holding public events until July for violating campus protest policies.
Meanwhile, changes at Harvard’s Centre for Middle Eastern Studies are underway, with reports that both the director and associate director will be leaving their roles. At Brown, the university’s provost has acknowledged hearing “troubling rumours” about funding cuts but stated that no official information has been confirmed yet.
As tensions escalate, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained some foreign students participating in campus protests, with deportation proceedings reportedly in progress. Advocacy groups have raised alarms about what they describe as rising Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment, noting the absence of government measures to address those concerns.
These developments mark a deepening rift between university communities and the federal government over the balance between national interests, student activism, and the right to academic freedom.