By Nandita Bose and Nate Raymond
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Trump administration plans to terminate the federal government’s remaining contracts with Harvard University, according to a letter scheduled to be sent to federal agencies on Tuesday.
The letter, from the U.S. General Services Administration, directs all federal agencies to review and potentially terminate or reallocate their contracts with Harvard University, citing concerns over racial discrimination in admissions, alleged discriminatory hiring practices, and failure to protect Jewish students from harassment.
It also references the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and recent campus incidents as evidence of Harvard’s failure to uphold federal standards and values.
A copy of the letter, first reported by the New York Times, was reviewed by Reuters. Two administration officials familiar with the matter said it will be sent to agencies on Tuesday.
One of the officials said the federal government’s remaining contracts with Harvard University are valued at approximately $100 million.
Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The move is the latest indication of the Trump administration’s intent to cripple Harvard, widely considered the nation’s most elite and culturally influential university, by targeting its financial stability and global standing.
Since last month, the administration has frozen approximately $3.2 billion in grants and contracts with the university and has attempted to block its ability to enroll international students.
The administration has framed its actions against Harvard as a civil rights battle, accusing the university of liberal bias, illegal racial admissions practices, and tolerating antisemitism.
Harvard has countered that the fight centers on its First Amendment rights, alleging the Trump administration seeks to control its staff, curriculum, and enrollment.
In one lawsuit filed last month, Harvard is seeking to recover over $3 billion in federal funding. In another, filed last week, it is asking a federal court to restore its ability to enroll international students.
The GSA letter directs agencies to submit a list of contract cancellations by June 6. Contracts for critical services would be transitioned to other vendors rather than canceled immediately, it said.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington and Nate Raymond in New YorkEditing by Rod Nickel)
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