The president of USA, Donald Trumpannounced the withdrawal of the Harvard University of its status of tax exemption. This will intensify the confrontation of the Republican Administration with One of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country.
“We are going to take away his tax exemption status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump wrote on his social truth platform, although without giving detail of the specific reasons behind the measure.
Harvard: Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of his tax exemption
He Treasury Department He ordered him Internal Tax Service (IRSfor its acronym in English) start The process of revoking Harvard’s fiscal exemption status Shortly after Trump’s words.
The White House has also said that Any IRS action will be carried out independently of the president. The Federal Fiscal Law prohibits the high members of the Executive Power from requesting that an IRS employee carry out an audit or investigation.
Against elite universities
The president criticized elite universities more than onceaccused by him of being dominated by “the radical left” and to promote an agenda contrary to American traditional values.
Harvard, in particular, was a frequent target from the Freedom of expression on campus, admissions based on criteria of diversity and the use of public funds.
In April, the National Security Department (DHS) threatened to revoke the authorization of registration to foreign students, if the institution does not access to share information about certain visas holders, in accordance with the demands of the administration.
The same month, the administration announced the freezing of more than US $ 2,200 million in subsidies and 60 million in federal contracts for the university, in response to its refusal to implement restrictions on political activism on campus.
So far, Harvard University did not issue any official statement in response. However, he counterattacked other actions, demanding the government for the suspension of federal funds for investigation.
Reports of “antissemistism and Islamophobia”
This last Trump announcement coincided with the Publication of two university reports on a discomfort in the campus linked to religious and ethnic prejudices. In them, a Climate of fear, exclusion and polarizationespecially among Arab students, Muslims, Jews and Israelis.
The investigations were carried out between May and August 2024, after the attacks of October 7, 2023 of the Hamas terrorist group in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. These facts unleashed a wave of university protests throughout the US.
The reports were made by two different working groups, focused on anti -Semitism and Islamophobia. Among the most significant findings, 56% of Muslim students and 26% of Jewish students claim to feel insecure in campusin contrast to Christians or atheists.
Besides, 92% of Muslims and 61% of the Jews surveyed —The students, teachers and administrative staff— They expressed fears of academic or professional reprisals For expressing their political or personal opinions, compared to 59% of the total consulted.
Source: Ambito
