Linda McMahon Confirms Harvard, Columbia Talks Amid Trump Administration Funding Freeze

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Tuesday that she has held discussions with the presidents of Harvard and Columbia universities regarding compliance with federal civil rights law, amid ongoing tensions over the Trump administration’s efforts to hold elite institutions accountable using federal funding as leverage.

The comments came during an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, where McMahon confirmed conversations with Harvard President Alan Garber and Columbia’s acting President Claire Shipman, as reported by Newsmax.

“I talked to the president of Columbia, I’ve also talked to the president of Harvard, [about] how we could make sure that the universities were abiding by the law,” McMahon said.

“And I made it very clear. I said, these are not First Amendment infractions. This is civil rights.”

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The administration has recently frozen over $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard after the school refused to comply with demands to reform hiring and admissions policies, reassess diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, and take action against certain pro-Palestinian campus groups accused of fostering antisemitism.

Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court, claiming the administration’s actions violate the First Amendment and requesting an injunction to halt the funding freeze.

The lawsuit argues that the administration’s demands are unconstitutional and seeks to restore access to federal grants.

“This is making sure that students on all campuses can come and learn and be safe, and that is exactly what the president’s direction to me is. That is why we have had these funds either withheld or frozen during a time of negotiation.”

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Columbia University also took legal action and subsequently lost $400 million in federal grants. However, unlike Harvard, Columbia chose to concede to most of the administration’s demands.

McMahon said she was “very pleased” with the progress Columbia has made in addressing the administration’s concerns.

While some critics argue that funding cuts will negatively affect scientific research, the administration has emphasized that wealthy universities with multi-billion-dollar endowments are capable of maintaining operations without federal assistance.

McMahon said the letter sent to Harvard was intended to reopen negotiations, not serve as a final ultimatum.

“It was a letter that was intended to have both parties sit down again and continue their negotiations. That’s what I sincerely hope will happen.”

Responding to the ongoing lawsuit, McMahon asserted, “The reason that these funds have been frozen is because of a civil rights issue and not a freedom of speech issue. So, I feel very confident and solid in that approach by the government.”

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