A federal judge intervened to block the Trump administration’s attempts to target Harvard University in a broader conflict with elite colleges. The administration’s recent actions included an effort to ban foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend Harvard, following a notification to Columbia University about alleged violations of antidiscrimination laws. These moves are part of a larger strategy by the administration to reshape academia to align with its political agenda.

One key tactic employed is withholding federal funding, with approximately $11 billion in university research funding and grants canceled this spring, affecting multiple universities. Harvard, in particular, faced over $2 billion in cuts. The administration’s strategy also involves restricting international students, with efforts to block their entry into the U.S. and revoke Harvard’s ability to sponsor student visas, actions that have been challenged in court.

Threatening accreditation is another tactic, as the administration aims to use this process to hold colleges accountable for perceived ideological bias. The Education Department’s notice to Columbia University regarding antidiscrimination law violations is part of this approach. Additionally, President Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and increase taxes on university endowments, with Congress passing legislation to potentially raise taxes on endowments.

Legal challenges and court interventions have been prominent in response to these actions, with ongoing debates over the legality and constitutionality of the administration’s tactics in reshaping higher education institutions like Harvard.