Kristi Noem continued Donald Trump’s war on Harvard, saying the school will lose its ability to enroll foreign students if it does not meet demands from the White House.

Trump’s Department of Education announced Monday that they froze over $2.2 billion in federal grants and around $60 million in contracts to the Ivy League institution on Monday. 

Since October 7, 2023, college campuses nationwide have erupted with protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Some demonstrations have turned violent, and others resulted in full-fledged occupations with students camping out for weeks on lawns and in halls.

Harvard, like many elite universities, has been a hotbed for these protests. 

Noem also announced on Wednesday the termination of two DHS grants totaling over $2.7 million to Harvard.

The former governor of South Dakota wrote a letter to Harvard demanding records on what she called the ‘illegal and violent activities’ of Harvard’s foreign student visa holders by April 30.

‘And if Harvard cannot verify it is in full compliance with its reporting requirements, the university will lose the privilege of enrolling foreign students,’ Noem said in a statement.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for the Ivy League university said they’re not budging.  

Kristi Noem (pictured) continued Donald Trump's war on Harvard, saying the school will lose its ability to enroll foreign students if it does not meet demands from the White House

Kristi Noem (pictured) continued Donald Trump’s war on Harvard, saying the school will lose its ability to enroll foreign students if it does not meet demands from the White House

Trump's Department of Education announced Monday that they froze over $2.2 billion in federal grants and around $60 million in contracts to the Ivy League institution on Monday

Trump’s Department of Education announced Monday that they froze over $2.2 billion in federal grants and around $60 million in contracts to the Ivy League institution on Monday

‘We continue to stand by that statement. We will continue to comply with the law and expect the Administration to do the same.’

They expect that if the federal government takes action against them, it be done based ‘on clear evidence, follow established legal procedures, and respect the constitutional rights afforded to all individuals.’

The Trump administration has threatened universities with federal funding cuts over pro-Palestinian campus protests against U.S. ally Israel’s devastating military assault on Gaza after a deadly October 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants.

Trump casts the protesters as foreign policy threats who are antisemitic and sympathetic to Hamas. 

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the Trump administration wrongly conflates their advocacy for Palestinian rights and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza with support for extremism and antisemitism.

The White House is also attempting to deport some foreign protesters and has revoked hundreds of visas across the country.

‘With a $53.2 billion endowment, Harvard can fund its own chaos – DHS won’t,’ Noem said, adding an ‘anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology’ existed at Harvard.

Harvard has previously said it worked to fight antisemitism and other prejudice on its campus while preserving academic freedoms and the right to protest.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for the Ivy League university said they're not budging

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for the Ivy League university said they’re not budging

Since October 7, 2023, college campuses nationwide have erupted with protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Some demonstrations have turned violent, and others resulted in full-fledged occupations with students camping out for weeks on lawns and in halls. Harvard, like many elite universities, has been a hotbed for these protests

Since October 7, 2023, college campuses nationwide have erupted with protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Some demonstrations have turned violent, and others resulted in full-fledged occupations with students camping out for weeks on lawns and in halls. Harvard, like many elite universities, has been a hotbed for these protests

According to a letter sent from the administration to the university on Friday, the school could stand to lose out on around $9 billion in grants and contracts should they not conform.

But the Harvard president hit back at the White House in a letter Monday.

‘The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,’ Harvard President Alan Garber wrote.

‘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.’

The Trump administration subsequently said it was freezing $2.3 billion in funding.

Trump also threatened on Tuesday to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status. 

CNN reported on Wednesday the U.S. Internal Revenue Service was making plans to rescind the tax-exempt status of Harvard and that a final decision was expected soon.

Human rights advocates have raised free speech and academic freedom concerns over the crackdown by the government.

The Trump administration has frozen or canceled some funding for universities like Columbia, Princeton, Brown, Cornell and Northwestern as well.

It has also threatened to withhold funding over culture war issues such as DEI programs and transgender policies.

Rights advocates have also raised concerns about Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias during the Israel-Gaza war. The Trump administration has not announced steps in response.

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