Trump Administration Issues Demands On Harvard As Conditions For Billions In Federal Money

The Trump administration has issued a list of demands Harvard University must meet as a condition for receiving almost 9 billion in grants and contracts, federal money that is being threatened during an investigation into campus antisemitism.

In a letter to Harvard's president Thursday, three federal agencies outlined demands described as necessary for a "continued financial relationship" with the government. It's similar to a demand letter that prompted changes at Columbia University under the threat of billions of dollars in cuts.

The letter describes Harvard's federal money as a taxpayer investment that's based on performance. Harvard has "fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment" and must take immediate action to keep its funding, the letter said.

Harvard confirmed it received the letter.

The letter calls for a ban on face masks, a demand that was also made at Columbia and targets pro-Palestinian protesters who have sometimes worn masks to hide their identities. Harvard also must clarify its campus speech policies that limit the time, place and manner of protests and other activities.