The Trump administration had previously announced that it would be reviewing $9 billion in Harvard funding, and this latest move is a significant escalation of that effort. The decision comes on the heels of violent, antisemitic protests at Harvard, where students demanded that the university divest from Israel, falsely claiming that the country was engaged in genocide. The administration had given Harvard an ultimatum to reform programs with egregious records of antisemitism, discontinue diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, reform student discipline, and institute governance and leadership reforms, all by August of this year. In addition, the Department of Education is demanding that Harvard review its international admissions process to ensure that students who support terrorism or antisemitism are not admitted to the university.

As one of 60 universities under scrutiny by the Trump administration for antisemitic protests, trans inclusion in women’s sports, and civil rights violations, Harvard is now facing the consequences of its refusal to comply with the administration’s demands. The funding freeze is a clear warning to other universities, including Columbia, UPenn, and Princeton, which have also faced similar funding freezes, that the administration will take decisive action to address these critical issues.

Does Harvard University need federal? endowment valued at $53.2 billion

Let’s talk about Harvard’s funding structure.  Harvard University’s endowment was valued at $53.2 billion as of June 30, 2024. This figure represents the largest academic endowment in the world, comprising over 14,000 individual funds managed by the Harvard Management Company (HMC). The endowment is a perpetual source of funding, with distributions supporting various university operations, such as financial aid, faculty salaries, and research initiatives. In fiscal year 2024, the endowment distributed $2.4 billion, accounting for approximately 37% of Harvard’s total operating revenue. Excluding government funding, the endowment is supplemented by other non-government revenue sources, such as: Tuition and fees: For the 2025-2026 academic year, undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $86,926, though 55% of undergraduates receive need-based scholarships, reducing net revenue from this source. Education revenue constitutes about 21% of the university’s total revenue. Then there are Philanthropic gifts: In fiscal year 2024, Harvard received $368 million in endowment gifts (down from $561 million in 2023) and $528 million in current-use gifts, which are not part of the endowment but contribute to operational funding. Then Non-federal research grants: These accounted for 5% of revenue in fiscal year 2024, though specific amounts vary. Other income includes royalties, publication income, and other miscellaneous sources, which, for example, reached over $250 million in fiscal year 2021. While the endowment itself is explicitly valued at $53.2 billion, calculating the total “coffers” excluding government funding requires estimating non-endowment, non-government revenue. Harvard’s total operating revenue in fiscal year 2024 was approximately $6.4 billion, with 16% ($686 million) from federal funding. Excluding this, non-government revenue (including endowment distributions, tuition, philanthropy, and other sources) totals roughly $5.714 billion annually, with the endowment’s $53.2 billion as the primary asset base. Thus, Harvard’s endowment stands at $53.2 billion, with additional non-government revenue streams contributing significantly to its operational budget. Listen to Arkansas senator Tim Cotton.

American Universities are intertwined with dubious “Philanthropic” foundations

Let’s talk about the additional non-government revenue streams contributing significantly to its operational budget. Philanthropic foundations and trusts play a significant role in funding Harvard’s endowment and specific programs. Notable contributors include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Historically, this foundation has donated approximately $350 million to Harvard, supporting various initiatives, particularly in global health and education. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, this initiative has provided substantial funding, including a $519 million gift in 2021, often directed toward medical research and education. The Rockefeller Foundation has historically contributed to Harvard, particularly in areas like public health and social sciences. The Ford Foundation is another major player in higher education funding and has supported Harvard’s initiatives in social justice and policy research. Wellcome Trust based in the UK, this trust has funded Harvard’s biomedical research, aligning with its focus on global health. American Universities are NOT what you think, and they are intertwined with George Soros.

Courtesy: Mike Benz, former state department official

Particularly interesting are the Individuals and Alumni donations that are a cornerstone of Harvard’s endowment, often channelled through trusts or donor-advised funds. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan: Their $519 million donation in 2021 is one of the largest single gifts to Harvard, supporting medical and scientific research. Kenneth C. Griffin, a billionaire investor, Griffin donated over $500 million to Harvard, though he suspended further contributions in 2024 due to disagreements with the university’s direction. Leonard Blavatnik: Contributed $200 million in 2018, primarily for medical and business school programs. Then there is Hansjörg Wyss who donated $131 million between 2018 and 2019, focusing on environmental and medical research.

Before going further, can I tell you a little bit about what else is Wyss involved in? Wyss has championed liberal and Democratic causes in the US since selling his medical device empire Synthes to J&J in 2012 for $19.7B. He’s joined forces with other globalist ‘philanthropists’ like George Soros, donating generously to Democratic candidates, super PACs, and funding ‘social justice’ and ‘climate change action’ initiatives. Wyss set up the Berger Action Fund in 2016, giving over $339M to liberal non-profits since then. Wyss and Soros have pumped money into the same dark money groups, including Sixteen Thirty, Color of Change, ACLU, Environmental Defense Fund, Planned Parenthood, and Center for American Progress. Berger has also spent millions on ‘democracy promotion’, ‘civil society’, and media initiatives in Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. That’s one of the guys funding Harvard. Trump is absolutely right

Universities have abandoned their pursuit of excellence

Universities have become ideological factories, politicized

America’s most prestigious institutions, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Columbia, have abandoned their pursuit of excellence and now embody the United States ‘deeply entrenched legal corruption. Investigative journalist Victor Hanson has blown the lid off the rampant decay at the helm of America’s law schools, specifically highlighting the likes of Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and UC Berkeley, which have completely overhauled their approach to teaching. Instead of imparting a comprehensive understanding of the law, these schools now prioritize activism, having drastically lowered their academic standards, abandoned empirical training, and accepted billions of dollars in foreign funding. Consequently, they have transformed into ideological factories, mass-producing radicalized legal minds who are more focused on pushing a particular agenda than upholding the Constitution. The repercussions of this are now manifesting in 2025, as the judges and prosecutors at the forefront of the relentless legal assault on President Donald J. Trump are, in fact, products of these very institutions. These judges, who are exploiting their positions to further their own interests, are the direct result of a corrupted legal pipeline that has been compromised by ideology, influenced by foreign money, and stripped of its commitment to ensuring equal justice under the law.

Written By Tatenda Belle Panashe