HN Reader

Federal agencies continue terminating all funding to Harvard

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One of the organizations that got completely cut off is the Undiagnosed Diseases Network. Which brings together researchers across the country in to find cures to the rarest diseases. And it may just cease to exist, setnences people with rare diseases to die. This administration is responsible for abject evil because a university didn't swear fealty to a genocidal foreign government.

8 months agoby 1270018080

What exactly are the 'unsafe anti-Semitic actions' that Harvard Univ has committed? Is this whole thing about how Harvard hasn't suppressed the free speech rights of its students as they protested the wholesale bombing of Gaza? Its not like Harvard is rife with far-right activists denying the Holocaust and such. I can't imagine that Harvard wouldn't win their case quite roundly. Law firms & universities have to stop bowing to the wanna-be dictator.

8 months agoby markoman

“Differing political opinions” is a dealbreaker for liberals, but NOT for conservatives. And conservatives don’t know this, they just love to take advantage - a Supreme Court seat here, a presidency there… One fine day liberals will wake up and decide they’ve had enough, and conservatives will be so surprised.

8 months agoby Herring

Harvard currently has a $52 billion endowment on which it pays no tax: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/business/harvard-endowmen...

Why are progressives not bothered more by this?

8 months agoby anonnon

75 years ago, universities were cautious about accepting Federal funds due to this specific possibility. It worked out. Not it isn't.

Federal funds comes with strings attached and administrations change. If the usefulness of the work has proven itself now, then other sources can fund it. This won't really be controversial or require grandstanding or debate soon, because it will be the status quo.

Yes, its also disruptive to many programs to cut off funding in this way. I think decoupling is for the better. This university daytraded tax free up to a $50bn endowment, for a rainy day. They just need to get liquid and plug the budget gap, which they are starting to do. Donors and other sources can be leveraged too.

8 months agoby yieldcrv