Trump Administration to Cancel $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard

In a major escalation of its ongoing campaign against Harvard University, the Trump administration is set to terminate all remaining federal contracts with the institution, totaling approximately $100 million.

According to a report by The New York Times, a letter directing federal agencies to cancel these contracts and seek alternative partners for future collaborations is expected to be delivered on Tuesday.

“The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is assisting all federal agencies in reviewing and terminating or transitioning their existing federal contracts with Harvard University and its affiliates,” the letter reportedly states.

This move marks the latest in a series of actions designed to strike at the financial core and global reputation of one of America’s most prestigious academic institutions. Since last month, the administration has frozen roughly $3.2 billion in grants and contracts and has moved to block the enrollment of international students at Harvard.

The letter, dated May 27, is expected to be circulated to federal agencies by Tuesday morning. A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the contents of the document to The New York Times.

Grants May Be Redirected to Trade Schools

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced plans to reallocate $3 billion in federal grants—originally earmarked for Harvard—to trade schools across the United States.

The proposal, shared on his social media platform Truth Social, follows the administration’s recent attempt to prohibit Harvard from admitting international students.

Most of these federal grants, distributed by Congress through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are intended to fund biomedical research—an area not typically associated with trade schools.

Harvard has responded by initiating legal proceedings to challenge the freeze and reclaim the halted funds.

Legal Pushback on International Student Ban

The administration’s actions have already sparked legal resistance. On May 23, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs in Boston issued a temporary restraining order against the government's attempt to block Harvard from enrolling international students, citing “immediate and irreparable injury” to the university.

This ruling came just hours after Harvard filed a lawsuit challenging a May 22 directive from the Department of Homeland Security that sought to revoke its authorization to admit foreign students.

As one of the oldest and most internationally renowned universities in the U.S., Harvard’s standoff with the Trump administration is quickly evolving into a high-stakes legal and political battle with national implications.