Harvard University, which has been in conflict with U.S. President Donald Trump, has entered discussions to pay a fine of $500 million (approximately 695.7 billion won). Harvard, which has clashed with the Trump administration over its response to anti-Semitism, has ultimately raised the white flag in the face of Trump's pressure for strong measures such as the suspension of subsidies.
On the 28th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) quoted four sources familiar with the matter as saying, "Harvard has indicated a willingness to meet the Trump administration's demand for a maximum expenditure of $500 million to resolve the conflict with the White House," adding, "Harvard feels burdened by the prospect of directly paying money to the federal government, but is in negotiations over specific financial expenditure conditions."
The Trump administration has pressured Harvard, claiming that it violated Section 6 of the Civil Rights Act by responding sluggishly to protect Jewish students, threatening to cut off all financial support. The Civil Rights Act, enacted in 1964, prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, and gender, with Section 6 specifically banning discrimination by organizations receiving federal assistance based on race, color, or national origin.
Columbia University has also been under federal investigation for violations of the Civil Rights Act and agreed to pay a fine of $200 million (approximately 278.4 billion won) in negotiations with the Trump administration on the 23rd, in return for receiving more than $1.2 billion (approximately 1.67 trillion won) in federal subsidies each year. Both sides have also agreed that an external monitor, jointly appointed, will check the compliance of admissions, faculty hiring, and other agreements. The fine Harvard is considering is double that of Columbia's.
After reaching an agreement with Columbia, the Trump administration has been pushing negotiations with other prestigious universities in the same way. Earlier, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 25th, citing sources, that "the Trump administration is in negotiations with other prestigious universities such as Harvard, Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, and Brown, using Columbia University as a model."
Although both sides have commenced discussions for an agreement, Harvard is reportedly opposed to the designation of an external monitor, which Columbia accepted. Harvard views including the external monitor requirement in the agreement as crossing a 'red line' that infringes on the university's academic freedom.
Both sides have not immediately disclosed the specific conditions and exact timeline of the ongoing negotiations. NYT noted, "It remains uncertain when the government and Harvard will reach an agreement," adding that "Harvard is likely to try to link the federal lawsuit it filed against the government in April to this agreement." At that time, Harvard sued the Trump administration, requesting the suspension of the halt in subsidies due to demands for changes in college policies.
Harrison Fields, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary, stated, "The administration's proposal is simple and reasonable," and expressed confidence that "the White House believes that Harvard will eventually support the president's vision and that a sufficiently good agreement can be reached through sincere dialogue and negotiations."
If an agreement with Harvard is finalized, President Trump will ultimately win the battle with prestigious universities by using financial support as leverage. The Trump administration initially focused on recalibrating the ideological orientation of each university during the early stages of the conflict, but has recently appeared more focused on pursuing financial benefits using federal subsidies as a lever.
Former U.S. Representative Donna Shalala, who served as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Clinton administration and led four universities, including the University of Miami, said, "The specifics of the agreement are not that important to President Trump," adding, "What matters to him is to finalize the transaction and achieve a 'victory.'"