Trump again threatens Harvard’s tax-exempt status, saying, ‘It’s what they deserve!’
On Friday, President Trump again threatened to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status.
“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
His comments marked the latest volley in a battle between the Trump administration and the wealthiest college in the world.
Trump first suggested revoking the school’s nonprofit tax status in April, when he wrote on Truth Social: “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’ “
The administration claims the university has failed to protect Jewish students on campus and had sent Harvard a list of demands it said must be met, or the university would risk losing some $9 billion in federal funding. Harvard’s president rejected the administration’s demands, saying they were illegal and an intolerable attempt to dictate “what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.” In response, the government froze more than $2.2 billion in federal funding.
Nearly all colleges and universities are tax-exempt organizations. They are given nonprofit status along with charities, religious institutions and some political organizations.
That’s part of the reason some elite, U.S. institutions have been able to amass huge endowments. Harvard has the largest, at more than $50 billion.
Republicans have long sought to curb the tax exemptions in higher education. In 2017, Congress passed a 1.4% tax on university endowments, which impacted many of the nation’s elite institutions. The president doesn’t have the power to revoke an organization’s tax status, but he can ask the Internal Revenue Service to do it.
Harvard has sued the Trump administration, claiming the government’s actions violate the First Amendment and don’t follow proper procedure. The expedited trial will begin this summer.
Senators from both parties grilled RFK Jr. on vaccines and more
In a blistering hearing, Senators from both parties challenged the health secretary to defend his actions, including on vaccines access and CDC leadership.
Why the medical community is thrilled by U.S. support for a ‘breakthrough’ HIV drug
Lenacapavir has the potential to end the HIV epidemic, researchers say. The Trump administration says backing this kind of effort will be a model for how it does global health work in the future.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
A clash of the comebacks: Osaka and Anisimova face off in the U.S. Open semifinals
Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova will face off in the U.S. Open semifinals on Thursday. Both players have been climbing up the rankings after taking mental health breaks from the sport.
Denying famine, Israel threatens more curbs on Gaza aid
Despite experts saying that famine has begun in Gaza, Israel is threatening more curbs on aid deliveries. Aid groups say extra restrictions will make the starvation crisis worse.