US halts $2.2 billion in Harvard research grants amid antisemitism dispute

A sweeping federal funding freeze by the Trump administration has cut off more than $2.2 billion in research grants and contracts to Harvard University, targeting its medical school and biomedical labs.

The decision, amid mounting claims that Harvard has tolerated antisemitism and failed to curb DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programmes, has abruptly halted hundreds of scientific projects—some linked to treatments for Alzheimer's, ALS, cancer and infectious diseases, Caliber.Az reports per US media.

At least 350 grants from agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have been cancelled, affecting about 180 faculty members, according to faculty sources at Harvard Medical School. 

The loss of funding—affecting projects across genetics, neurology, oncology and microbial resistance—has triggered alarm among scientists, who warn that life-saving breakthroughs could be permanently derailed.

“This is not a gift to a university,” said Michael Baym, whose lab lost five grants totalling $4.35 million. “These are research contracts awarded to scientists, and the cuts are crippling.”

The funding freeze followed an April 11 letter from the Trump administration accusing Harvard of “failing to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment.” The letter demanded sweeping reforms, including scrapping DEI initiatives, changing governance structures, and instituting ideological audits.

While Harvard has made some gestures, such as renaming its DEI office, the university argues the administration's demands go too far. President Alan Garber said the school remains committed to fostering a supportive academic environment, but warned that the funding cuts jeopardise critical research.

Researchers say the fallout is already dire. David Sinclair, whose lab was investigating potential ALS treatments, described the cancellation of two grants—one for his research, the other for a postdoctoral colleague—as devastating. “What do I tell my partner’s mother, who’s on a ventilator and whose life depends on our work?” he said.

The administration linked the grant terminations to allegations of antisemitism at Harvard’s main campus, citing a federal lawsuit and student complaints tied to pro-Palestinian protests. However, affected researchers, many based far from the main campus, argue their work has no connection to campus politics.

“This is a political battle, and science is collateral damage,” said Michael Desai, who lost three grants. “If we don’t fund this research, other countries will—and we risk losing our scientific edge.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev