The clash between the Trump administration and the leadership of Harvard University continues unabated. According to some sources, the federal government has asked the Internal Revenue Service to revoke the tax-exempt status enjoyed by the university–a move that several analysts have seen as political payback.
In recent days, the prestigious U.S. university had refused to accept a series of reforms sought by the administration regarding the school’s leadership and its admissions and hiring policies. After the “No” vote by the Ivy League college, the government decided to freeze 2.2 billion in federal funds earmarked for the university.
Now, Trump’s request to the IRS marks the beginning of a new chapter in the clash between the two sides. Generally, charitable, religious and educational organizations, as well as social welfare groups, are eligible for tax exemption, but they cannot engage in certain political activities. According to experts, Harvard would not have violated any of the stipulated rules.
The authority to investigate rests solely with the IRS, and the president is prohibited from directly or indirectly requesting that the agency exercise that power over taxpayers. According to sources, IRS chief counsel Andrew De Mello received such a request from Treasury Department officials on Wednesday.
Upon learning the news, Harvard spokesman Jason Newton said there is “no legal basis” for revoking the university’s tax-exempt status. Newton said the status “means that more of every dollar can go toward scholarships for students, lifesaving and life-enhancing medical research, and technological advancements that drive economic growth.”
Earlier this month, the Trump administration called for broad scrutiny of Harvard’s activities following complaints about “diversity, equity and inclusion” policies in recruitment, admissions and curricula, and because of student activism over the war between Israel and Hamas.
After freezing funding for the university, Trump exacerbated the conflict with a series of posts released on his Truth profile in which he claimed the university supports terrorism. “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status,” he added. “We’ll see what IRS comes back with relative to Harvard,” Linda McMahon, secretary of the Department of Education, added that the agency will also investigate the current status of other colleges.
Meanwhile, attacks against the Ivy League university continue to come from multiple fronts. On Wednesday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that if the college’s leadership refuses to turn over files on the “illegal and violent activities” of international students, Harvard will no longer be allowed to accept new alumni from abroad. To date, the latter account for 27.2 percent of the enrollment.
