As talks between Harvard University and the Trump administration resume on Thursday in Washington over the president’s far-reaching effort to bring the nation’s oldest university to heel, the school’s new negotiator, the billionaire Stephen A. Schwarzman, must navigate a fresh challenge over the government’s multiplying demands on higher education.
Last week, President Trump made a surprise announcement that Harvard and the government were near an agreement that would allow the university to continue to receive billions in research funds. But a day later, his administration sent letters to nine universities that asked campus leaders to embrace a plan that would align the Trump administration’s political agenda with preferred access to federal research dollars.
Harvard officials have since discussed internally the possibility of seeking additional assurances from the administration that the university will not be subject to further demands once an agreement has been signed, according to two people briefed on the matter.
Administration officials have said the letters to campuses were attempts to solicit feedback, not ultimatums. Still, the requests concerned Harvard leaders because three of the schools had either agreed to deals with the administration or were in negotiations.
The White House has wielded investigations and funding cuts to try to compel Harvard to adopt more conservative values, including stricter definitions of gender, deeper government access to student admissions data and more rigorous codes for student conduct.
For leaders at Harvard, the abrupt introduction of last week’s proposal to other schools underscored one of their most pressing questions about the value of hammering out a deal with the Trump White House. Why spend the extraordinary amount of time, money and political capital required for an agreement with Mr. Trump, some have asked, if his administration will return months later seeking more?
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The post Harvard Seeks Assurances as Talks Restart in Washington appeared first on New York Times.
