Harvard University President Alan Garber announced a voluntary 25% reduction in his salary for the 2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) in response to the Trump administration's suspension of approximately US$2.7 billion in federal funding to the institution, according to a university spokesperson. The decision, reported by CNN on Tuesday (May 13), aims to alleviate financial strain as Harvard faces escalating tensions with the federal government over antisemitism policies and foreign student regulations.
While Garber's current compensation remains undisclosed, his predecessors have earned annual salaries nearing US$1 million. In addition to executive pay cuts, Harvard plans to allocate US$250 million from its endowment to sustain critical research programs, Reuters reported.
The funding freeze caps months of conflict between the Ivy League institution and the Trump administration. On March 31, federal officials launched a review of US$9 billion in grants and contracts tied to Harvard, demanding immediate action to address antisemitism concerns on campus. When the university refused to overhaul its diversity initiatives and foreign student oversight policies by April 14, the administration retaliated by blocking US$2.2 billion (HK$17 billion) in grants and US$60 million (HK$465 million) in contracts. Two days later, the Department of Homeland Security revoked US$2.7 million in funding and threatened to strip Harvard's ability to enroll international students unless it disclosed records of alleged "illegal or violent activities" by certain visa holders.
Harvard escalated the dispute on April 21 by filing a federal lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of unconstitutional overreach, arguing that the funding freeze, framed as a response to antisemitism, illegally undermines academic independence and violates the university's First Amendment rights.
The standoff highlights broader clashes between the White House and elite universities over campus speech policies and international student oversight. Critics allege the administration is weaponizing federal funds to enforce political alignment, while supporters claim the measures hold institutions accountable for national security risks. With Harvard's US$53 billion endowment now being tapped to offset losses, analysts warn that prolonged funding cuts could destabilize research, scholarships, and global academic partnerships, setting a precedent for federal intervention in higher education.
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