U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that a major settlement with Harvard University is nearing completion, with the Ivy League institution set to pay $500 million and operate trade schools, including programs in AI and engineering. Details remain scarce as negotiations continue under the supervision of Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
The deal follows months of tense standoffs between the Trump administration and several elite universities over issues ranging from pro-Palestinian campus protests to diversity and transgender policies. Harvard, along with other institutions, had faced threats of losing federal funding and potential restrictions on international student enrollment.
Trump’s administration has focused heavily on pro-Palestinian activism on campus, claiming universities tolerated antisemitic displays, a position disputed by protesters and some Jewish groups who argue criticism of Israel’s Gaza actions is not antisemitism. Harvard task forces have reported incidents of bias against both Jewish and Muslim students amid the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.
Other Ivy League universities, including Columbia and Brown, have reached prior settlements with the government. Columbia agreed to a $220 million payment, while Brown pledged $50 million toward local workforce initiatives.
Harvard has maintained that federal pressures, if enforced, could cut nearly $1 billion annually from its budget, forcing layoffs and hiring freezes. The university challenged several actions in court, successfully blocking attempts to bar international students and halt research funding, although the administration has continued efforts to escalate compliance pressure.
The proposed Harvard settlement, if finalized, would mark one of the largest of its kind, reflecting the high stakes of federal-university conflicts under the current administration.
