U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration is seeking a $1 billion settlement from Harvard University to resolve multiple federal investigations, signaling a hardening stance after months of negotiations failed to produce a final agreement.
In a late-night post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said the government was pursuing damages from the Ivy League school over its campus policies, adding that the administration wanted “nothing further to do” with Harvard once the matter is resolved.
The dispute underscores the Trump administration’s broader pressure campaign against major U.S. universities over issues including pro-Palestinian protests, diversity initiatives, and transgender policies—moves that have sparked legal challenges and free speech concerns.
Trump and senior administration officials have repeatedly accused Harvard and other universities of tolerating antisemitism during protests opposing Israel’s war in Gaza. The administration has warned that federal funding could be withheld unless schools comply with new policy demands.
“We are now seeking One Billion Dollars in damages,” Trump wrote, without detailing how the figure was calculated or specifying the alleged harm. He dismissed a New York Times report that claimed the administration had dropped its demand for cash payments as part of ongoing talks.
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Negotiations between Harvard and federal officials have stretched on for months. In September, Trump said the two sides were close to a deal that would have required the university to pay $500 million, according to public statements at the time.
Harvard, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration has already reached settlements with several universities. However, Harvard opted to challenge the government in court after federal agencies cut some of its grants last year.
A federal judge later ruled that the administration had unlawfully terminated certain funding awards, dealing a legal setback to the White House. Despite that ruling, talks between the two sides continued.
Civil rights groups and academic advocates have criticized the administration’s actions, arguing they blur the line between antisemitism and criticism of Israeli policy. Some Jewish organizations participating in campus protests have also said opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza should not be equated with hatred of Jews.
Rights groups have warned that the federal probes could undermine free speech protections and academic independence at U.S. universities.
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Several peer institutions have chosen a different path. Columbia University agreed to pay more than $220 million as part of a settlement with the federal government, while Brown University said it would contribute $50 million toward local workforce development initiatives.
Those agreements have fueled debate within higher education over whether universities should comply with federal demands or fight them in court.