Harvard’s campus may be draped in graduation banners this week, but behind the scenes, a storm is brewing — and it’s not coming from the skies over Cambridge.

The Trump administration has launched its most aggressive move yet in an ongoing political and legal war against the Ivy League giant, announcing plans to review and potentially cancel $100 million in federal contracts with Harvard University. 🇺🇸💸

The message is clear: Harvard is now public enemy number one in the administration’s war on elite institutions.

A senior official confirmed that the General Services Administration (GSA) is preparing to send a letter to all federal agencies instructing them to review and potentially terminate contracts with Harvard. The directive targets roughly 30 contracts valued at around $100 million, covering everything from research on health to executive training programs for Homeland Security staff.

The letter, first reported by The New York Times, suggests agencies look for other vendors and consider whether Harvard’s contracts are “critical.” If not, they may be scrapped altogether.

👉 The review won’t automatically cut funding, but it does set a process in motion to evaluate — and likely eliminate — these deals unless agencies fight to keep them.

This move is the latest escalation in a months-long battle. Harvard has already filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the government is violating its First Amendment rights and overstepping its authority by trying to influence how the university operates.

In return, the administration has accused Harvard of discrimination and antisemitism, using those claims to justify this financial review. It has also questioned Harvard’s admissions practices, its handling of international students, and even its nonprofit status.

Sound extreme? It is — and it’s all part of a broader campaign to discredit and defund what Trump calls 'liberal elite' institutions. 🎯

Perhaps the most disruptive action yet: the Trump administration has moved to block Harvard from enrolling international students or hosting foreign researchers, sparking chaos for thousands of students across the globe.

The Department of Homeland Security has demanded detailed records from Harvard about foreign students, including disciplinary histories and any signs of "dangerous or violent activity." Harvard responded — but DHS said the school didn’t go far enough, and began revoking its international student privileges.

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked that move, but the tension remains high.

Trump has taken the battle online, accusing Harvard of harboring “radicalized lunatics” and demanding a full list of its international students — even though federal agencies already have access to that data via visas and immigration records.

In a surprising twist, Trump has floated the idea of redirecting billions in federal grants away from Harvard and toward U.S. trade schools.

The administration says this would “level the playing field” by investing in skilled labor rather than what it calls “liberal indoctrination.” Trump has even hinted at slashing another $3 billion in research grants, though no details were provided.

This is not just about funding — it’s about reshaping America’s education system to match Trump’s populist agenda. And Harvard, with its $50 billion endowment and elite reputation, is the perfect villain for that narrative.

The political implications of this move are national — but the fallout is global.

Japan’s Education Ministry has already stepped in, announcing plans to support international students displaced by the policy. Other countries are watching closely, especially as U.S. universities continue to attract top-tier global talent.

For Harvard, this is more than a public relations headache. It's a potential existential crisis. The university depends on government research funding — not just for money, but for prestige, partnerships, and innovation pipelines.

This isn’t just a Harvard problem.

This battle raises big questions:

Whether you're in academia, politics, or just watching from the sidelines, this is a defining moment for the relationship between government and higher education.