Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University and a prominent economist, has publicly criticized President Donald Trump for targeting the elite academic institution with what he described as a ‘wildly extralegal’ funding freeze.
The condemnation comes after the Trump administration announced earlier this week a suspension of federal funds to Harvard University in response to perceived disagreements between the school and the White House. Though details remain limited, the move reportedly stems from ongoing tensions surrounding campus policies and free speech issues.
Summers denounced the suspension of funding as an abuse of executive power that sets a dangerous precedent. In his remarks, he emphasized that such government actions threaten institutional autonomy and democratic norms, particularly when directed at academic institutions.
Harvard University has not yet officially responded to the funding freeze. The incident adds to ongoing debates over the appropriate balance between federal oversight and academic independence.
The federal government provides significant support to universities and research institutions across the United States. Critics warn that politicizing this assistance could chill academic freedom and damage the nation’s higher education system.
This episode marks another point of contention between the Trump administration and America’s elite academic institutions, which have often been the target of criticism from the president and his allies.