President Trump is considering canceling all federal contracts with Harvard University — a move that would escalate his beef with the Ivy League institution.
Josh Gruenbaum, head of the Federal Acquisition Service, has drafted a letter to federal agencies informing them that the General Services Administration is “assisting all federal agencies in a review for termination or transition of their federal contracts with Harvard University and affiliates.”
He added, “GSA understands that Harvard continues to engage in race discrimination, including in its admissions process and in other areas of student life. GSA is also aware of recent events at Harvard University involving antisemitic action that suggests the institution has a disturbing lack of concern for the safety and well-being of Jewish students.
“Each agency should consider its contracts with Harvard University and determine whether Harvard and its services effectively promote the priorities of the agency. We recommend that your agency terminate for convenience each contract that it determines has failed to meet its standards and transition to a new vendor those contracts that could be better served by an alternative counterparty.”
Government officials have told multiple news outlets the federal contracts are worth an estimated $100 million.
In the letter, the federal agencies are instructed to submit a list of terminated contracts by June 6.
Harvard has become a top target for Mr. Trump.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in grants and contracts after Harvard refused to bow to its demands that it change its hiring and admissions policies.
More recently, the White House accused the university of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security told Harvard it could no longer enroll international students. The agency stated that the thousands of current students must transfer to another institution or leave the country.
Mr. Trump also threatened in a social media post over the weekend to strip federal grants from Harvard and shift that money to trade schools.
Harvard has denied any wrongdoing.
The private university pushed back in court.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the White House’s attempt to revoke the university’s ability to host international students.
