Harvard, Get Used to the Chaos

Does Trump’s own administration even know what’s happening anymore?

Amid the fracas, we wouldn’t blame them for being confused. Alongside just about everyone else, Harvard must adapt to this new, chaotic normal — one where the Trump administration takes aim at Harvard’s core. In this environment, the University must learn how to fend for itself and protect its core academic mission.

Harvard’s saga began with a Monday order pausing the disbursement of federal funds to a variety of institutions and nonprofits, including Harvard.

The move, unprecedented in recent memory, provoked an uncharacteristic email from University President Alan M. Garber ’76 to the community detailing instructions for labs and students on financial aid.

Labs received surprise stop-work orders. Researchers’ felt their livelihoods immediately threatened. And students on financial aid faced a sudden scare, wondering whether their future at Harvard was in jeopardy.

Mere minutes later, a federal judge blocked the order, and a day later, the order was rescinded, disappearing as abruptly as it had appeared.

Beyond the chaos itself, the order carried frightening financial and ideological implications for the University, signaling that Trump intends to make good on his promise to punish universities and programs that don’t align with his political views.

In 2021, now Vice President J.D. Vance claimed “we have to honestly and aggressively attack universities” in a speech ominously titled “The Universities are the Enemy.” The Trump administration is doing just that. More recently, the White House halted several components of the National Institutes of Health’s grant approval system, a crucial funding mechanism for lifesaving healthcare research at institutions like Harvard.

Harvard received $686 million in federal funding in 2024, and a significant portion of that money goes directly toward funding research. Harvard — a research university — has long produced excellent research in fields ranging from quantum computing to biology.

A decision to turn off the federal spigot because of a difference of political opinion would rob universities of their academic freedom. Scholars should be able to study all manner of issues — even those deemed controversial.

A revocation of Harvard’s federal funding would be a disastrous blow to both research and the academic project as a whole. Major and minor research alike would grind to a halt, and the University could find itself unable to invest in staff or robust academic programs. Academic freedom would be impacted, leaving universities like Harvard at the beck and call of politicians.

Of course, Harvard is far from the only victim — local nonprofits, small business owners, and tribal groups could be affected, too. But unlike the lion’s share of those drawn into the White House’s frenzy, Harvard is in a strong position to fight for itself. It should.

With its wide-reaching influence, massive endowment, and large donor base, Harvard can work to lessen its reliance on federal funds and stake a path toward financial independence. And the University should be prepared to support and protect its students when Trump administration policies inevitably target undocumented students, LGBTQ+ students, and countless others.

But the fight doesn’t stop there.

Outside the walls of campus, Harvard and President Garber should be prepared to publicly criticize politicians and policies that attack the University. And when absolutely necessary, Harvard should be prepared to file lawsuits to protect its students and research. Such actions aren’t without precedent: In 2020, Harvard successfully sued to protect international student visas.

Trump’s bold new order thankfully didn’t come to pass, but it signifies a new American era — one where the heart of higher education is threatened. It’s time Harvard steps up.

This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.

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