Trump Team Speaks To Ivy League Colleges
In a bold move to defend the civil rights of American students, Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed that the Trump administration has frozen billions in federal funding to top Ivy League institutions—including Harvard and Columbia—over their failure to address rising antisemitism and discriminatory campus policies.
Speaking to CNBC on Tuesday, McMahon revealed she personally confronted the presidents of both universities, urging them to comply with federal law. “This isn’t about free speech,” she stated firmly. “This is about civil rights.”
The Trump administration has launched a sweeping review of controversial university policies tied to hiring practices, admissions, and taxpayer-funded “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs. According to McMahon, these policies have fostered a hostile environment for many students—particularly Jewish Americans—amid a surge in radical, pro-Palestinian activism on campuses nationwide.
Harvard University became the first to defy the administration’s lawful demands, prompting President Trump to freeze over $2 billion in federal funding and call for a review of the school’s tax-exempt status. In retaliation, Harvard filed a lawsuit, claiming a violation of its First Amendment rights.
But McMahon rejected that claim outright, stressing the core issue is not free expression—but federal civil rights compliance. “Every student deserves a safe, welcoming, and respectful learning environment,” she said. “That is President Trump’s mandate.”
Columbia University also lost approximately $400 million in government support after facing similar scrutiny. However, unlike Harvard, Columbia has begun cooperating with the administration, with McMahon describing its ongoing negotiations as “productive,” though “not finalized.”
While liberal commentators and university allies have warned that the funding freeze could affect long-term research efforts, Trump officials maintain that schools with massive endowments—like Harvard’s $50 billion fund—should not rely on taxpayer dollars while violating federal standards.
McMahon added that the Department of Education will continue to challenge Harvard’s lawsuit, expressing full confidence in the administration’s legal case. “We’re standing on solid ground,” she said. “This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about holding elite institutions accountable for protecting students’ rights.”
