US State Department checks all visas related to Harvard: conflict with the university escalates
29 May 15:21
The US State Department has launched a large-scale review of all visa documents related to Harvard University, including not only students but also other categories of visa holders, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to CNN, this was another round of conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard.
The university called the government’s actions an “act of revenge” for refusing to cooperate with politically motivated initiatives. In addition to the visa checks, the administration also canceled $100 million worth of federal contracts with the university. The reasons for the inspection were not officially explained.
Trump administration’s conflict with Harvard: what is known
The conflict between Donald Trump’s administration and Harvard University has been going on since his presidential term and escalated again in 2025. The main stages and essence of the confrontation:
The history of the conflict
In 2020, the Trump administration tried to ban foreign students from staying in the United States if their studies were fully transferred to an online format (due to COVID-19).
Harvard and MIT sued, and a federal court overturned the decision.
Ideological differences: Harvard has become a public critic of Trump’s policies, particularly on immigration, climate change, and racial equality. This contributed to the escalation of tensions between the university and the government.
Financial support and contracts: The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened to reduce or cancel government funding and contracts for universities that do not meet “patriotic” or “pro-American” standards.
Canceling contracts: The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to cancel all existing agreements with Harvard, totaling about $100 million.
Harvard’s reaction: The university leadership called these actions “an obvious act of retaliation” against academic freedom and the critical position of the institution.
Context and implications
This is one example of Trump’s broader campaign against “left-wing” universities, which he believes “educate America’s enemies.”
There is a risk of a serious impact on international students and scholars, as well as on research that depends on federal funding.
Theconflict with Harvard is part of the Trump administration’s broader political struggle against progressive academic institutions. It has profound implications for both the educational system and the image of the United States in the world.
