The Trump administration is yanking Harvard University’s authorization to enroll foreign students, a major escalation and financial blow in the government’s pressure campaign against the nation’s most prominent university.
Harvard enrolls about 7,000 international students, and like many U.S. universities, it relies on their tuition payments which are often full-freight. The administration has already pulled billions of dollars in federal research funding from the school and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status, citing concerns about antisemitism and DEI.
“Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses,” wrote Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Harvard Thursday explaining the decision.
The government threatened the move back in April after Harvard refused to comply with demands made by the administration, including that the university—under federal oversight—“audit” the viewpoints of faculty, students and staff.
Harvard didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
