Context:

Harvard University President Alan Garber has agreed to a 25% pay cut in response to a $2.2 billion federal funding freeze imposed by the Trump administration. The funding cut is part of a broader crackdown on universities, stemming from anti-Israel unrest and accusations that Harvard failed to uphold civil rights laws. In addition to voluntary pay reductions by leaders, Harvard has paused hiring, scrutinized spending, and suspended merit pay increases and non-essential projects. The Trump administration issued demands for reforms in governance, leadership, and admissions practices, threatening further funding cuts. Harvard has refused to comply, asserting that no government should dictate its academic and administrative policies, and has sued the administration over the funding freeze.

Dive Deeper:

• Harvard University President Alan Garber voluntarily reduced his salary by 25% for the 2025-26 school year, following a $2.2 billion funding freeze by the Trump administration, which is part of a broader crackdown on universities amid accusations of failing to uphold civil rights and fostering intellectual creativity.

• The university announced a hiring pause and asked administrative units to reassess discretionary spending, capital project timing, and new multi-year commitments, while central administration schools declared no merit pay increases for faculty and staff for fiscal year 2026.

• In April 2020, then-Provost Garber took a similar pay cut during the pandemic, and past presidents have earned up to $1 million annually, demonstrating that voluntary salary reductions are not unprecedented in times of financial difficulty.

• The Trump administration sent a letter to Harvard outlining failures and demands for governance, leadership, and admissions reforms, threatening further funding cuts if changes were not made by August, particularly emphasizing international admissions to avoid admitting students perceived as hostile to American values.

• Harvard refused to comply with the administration's demands, with President Garber asserting that private universities should maintain autonomy over teaching, admissions, and areas of study, leading to a lawsuit against the administration for the 'unlawful' freezing of funds.