The letter resolves issues related to recruitment, admissions and courses, triggering legal disputes between Harvard and the White House.
According to the New York Times, the letter was sent by Sean Keveney, acting general counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services, citing three sources.
According to the NYT report, it is not clear what prompted the letter to be sent last Friday. While three people familiar with the matter confirmed that the letter’s content was true, there was conflicting misconduct within the Trump administration about the letter. Sources said some White House officials believed the letter was sent too early because they had no authorization to discuss internal deliberations and said on condition of anonymity. Others in the government believe the letter was intended to be internally circulated among members of the Anti-Semitism Task Force, rather than delivered immediately to Harvard University.
The timing of the letter proved to be crucial. It arrives at the moment when Harvard officials still hope to avoid direct conflict with President Trump. In the first two weeks, the university had a conversation with the task force. However, the detailed requirements outlined in the letter led Harvard to conclude that it was unlikely to reach an agreement.
The Trump administration’s pressure on universities has escalated after Harvard publicly refused the demands — billions of dollars in federal funds reportedly released and warned that Harvard’s tax-free status could be risky. “The letter was signed by three federal officials who signed the official letterhead, sent from an email inbox of a senior federal official and was sent on April 11,” Harvard said in a statement Friday.
“The recipients of such letters from the U.S. government, even if it contains a surprisingly comprehensive requirement beyond the requirements, will not question its authenticity or seriousness.”
