Trump Administration Escalates Battle with Higher Education, Targeting Harvard and Columbia

The Trump administration's assault on American higher education has taken a dramatic turn, with the Department of Homeland Security attempting to bar international students from attending Harvard University, the nation's oldest institution of higher learning. Harvard subsequently sued, and a federal judge granted a temporary block on the restriction. National education reporter Laura Meckler joins Scott Simon to discuss the escalating conflict between the administration and the nation's institutions of higher learning.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented attack on higher education, targeting dozens of universities with investigations, funding cuts, and contract terminations.
• Harvard University has been at the forefront of this battle, facing a series of escalating punishments, including the loss of funding, threats of tax-exempt status revocation, and the attempted restriction on international students.
• The administration's actions have been met with resistance from universities, with some accepting the punishment and making adjustments, while others, like Harvard, have fought back through the courts.
• The climate of fear among colleges and universities is palpable, with many institutions facing their own investigations and concerned about the implications of the administration's actions on their values of diversity and inclusion.
• The consequences of this battle could be far-reaching, impacting not only the universities but also the country's ability to benefit from the knowledge and research produced by these institutions.

Statistics:

• Dozens of universities are facing investigations and potential action from the Department of Homeland Security.
• Harvard University has been stripped of hundreds of millions of dollars in grants as a result of the administration's actions.
• The Trump administration has threatened to revoke the tax-exempt status of Harvard and other universities.
• International students make up a significant percentage of the student body at many American universities, including Harvard and Columbia.
• The battle between the Trump administration and the nation's institutions of higher learning has created a climate of fear on college campuses, with many institutions facing uncertainty about their values and funding.

Sources:

• "Trump administration targets Harvard over foreign student issue," The Washington Post
• "Harvard University sues Trump administration over foreign student policy," CNN