WASHINGTON: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his administration’s campaign against elite academic institutions, taking sharp action against Harvard University and threatening Columbia University’s accreditation. The measures, grounded in national security and free speech concerns, have drawn immediate backlash from educators and students alike.
In a new executive proclamation issued late Wednesday, the White House ordered a six-month suspension on new international student visas for Harvard. Additionally, it warned that visas for existing foreign enrollees could be revoked. The proclamation cited national security threats and what it called Harvard’s “unsuitable conduct” for hosting international students and researchers.
“Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,” the order read.
International students, who make up 27% of Harvard’s enrollment for the 2024-2025 academic year, expressed shock and fear over the move.
“I’m trembling. This is outrageous,” said Karl Molden, an Austrian student at Harvard. Another student, speaking anonymously, called the decision “a disgrace.”
The action comes after earlier efforts by the Trump administration to halt Harvard’s ability to host foreign students were blocked by a federal judge. Since then, the government has slashed approximately $3.2 billion in federal support and excluded Harvard from future funding opportunities.
Harvard responded strongly, calling the new measures retaliatory and unconstitutional.
“This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” a spokesperson said, adding the university will “continue to protect its international students.”
Columbia University Also Under Fire
The administration’s offensive extended to Columbia University, where U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced that the Ivy League institution could lose its academic accreditation over alleged failures to protect Jewish students from harassment.
“Columbia University looked the other way as Jewish students faced harassment,” McMahon said on social media platform X. She cited violations of federal rules barring discrimination tied to federal funding.
Columbia, which has already made policy concessions in response to federal concerns—including redefining anti-Semitism on campus and tightening oversight of protests—may still face severe consequences. Losing accreditation would bar Columbia from all federal funding, including student loans and grants, which form a major part of the university’s financial structure.
The Education Department’s civil rights division has engaged Columbia’s accrediting body, Middle States Commission, to review the university’s status.
A Columbia spokesperson acknowledged the government’s concerns and said the university remains committed to addressing them.
“Columbia is deeply committed to combating anti-Semitism on our campus,” the spokesperson said. “We have addressed those concerns directly with Middle States and are continuing to work with the federal government.”
The developments mark a dramatic escalation in tensions between the federal government and U.S. higher education institutions, especially over issues of immigration, free speech, and campus inclusivity.
