Trump admin sets terms for Harvard to address antisemitism to avoid losing billions in taxpayer dollars
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration has set new preconditions for Harvard to combat antisemitism in exchange for access to federal funding. In a letter addressed to Harvard President Dean Garber, senior administration officials claimed Harvard had “fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment” in violation of the Civil Rights Act. “U.S. taxpayers invest enormously in U.S. colleges and universities, including Harvard,” a letter signed by Josh Gruenbaum, Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at the General Services Administration, Sean Keveney, acting general counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services and Thomas Wheeler, acting general counsel at the Department of Education. “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that all recipients are responsible stewards of taxpayer funds,” the memo, obtained by Fox News Digital, read. The letter stipulated that Harvard must ban the use of masks that could conceal identities at protests and establish a clear “time, place and manner” policy for protests. Harvard must also eliminate all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, adopt “merit-based” admissions and hiring reform and end any admissions based on race or national origin. TRUMP CUTS MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN GRANTS TO COLUMBIA OVER ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS, POTENTIALLY MORE TO COME The university must commit to “full cooperation” with the Department of Homeland Security and all other agencies in government, according to the letter. It also said Harvard must review and make changes to programs and departments that “fuel antisemitic harassment,” cooperate with law enforcement. It must hold all recognized and unrecognized students accountable for violations of policy and ensure senior administration officials are responsible for disciplinary decisions. The three federal agencies – HHS, GSA and ED – last week announced a review of some $8 billion in “multi-year grant commitments” as part of a probe launched by the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. The review also includes some $255 million in contracts. “The message is clear: reform is not optional,” the task force told Fox News Digital when reached for comment. “The era of elite impunity is over. With billions in taxpayer dollars at stake, Harvard must either confront its institutional failures—including its inability to protect students from anti-Semitic abuse—or risk losing funding.” “Harvard received the letter from the federal task force this afternoon,” a university spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Garber said earlier this week that Harvard would engage with the task force “to ensure that they have a full account of the work we have done and the actions we will take going forward to combat antisemitism.” “Much is at stake here. In longstanding partnership with the federal government, we have launched and nurtured pathbreaking research that has made countless people healthier and safer, more curious and more knowledgeable, improving their lives, their communities, and our world,” Garber said. “But we are not perfect. Antisemitism is a critical problem that we must and will continue to address.” TRUMP COLLEGE CRACKDOWN: LIST OF STUDENTS DETAINED AMID ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUSES Weeks ago the Trump administration clawed back more than $400 million in funding from Columbia University, demanding changes to disciplinary policy and placing some programs under administrative control. Columbia acquiesced to many of the trio of agencies’ demands – prompting backlash from liberal critics – and the university replaced its interim president Katrina Armstrong. The university’s board of trustees denied caving to the administration, calling the new changes “Columbia-driven decisions made in accordance with our values and our mission.” “Where this work aligns with recommendations of others, we believe constructive dialogue makes sense,” the trustees wrote. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has targeted international students who study at U.S. universities and participate in Gaza protests that they say veer into pro-Hamas territory. Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 30 to combat the explosion of anti-Semitism on our campuses and streets” since October 7, 2023, and since then the State Department has revoked some 300 visas, many of them held by college students. “If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus – we’re not going to give you a visa,” Rubio said before adding, “Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa.” Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra said this week that the department was working on a contingency plan in case of federal funding cuts. “I know this news is extraordinarily disconcerting and that it’s hard to process,” Hoekstra said, according to the Harvard Crimson. “There is some important work that we, and only we, can do right now: maintain the continuity of our teaching and research mission.” Harvard and Columbia were among 10 universities the task force said it is reviewing. Harvard already instituted a hiring freeze in response to the review, given the uncertain funding environment.
SCOOP: Trump admin sets terms for Harvard to address antisemitism or lose billions in taxpayer dollars
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration has set new preconditions for Harvard to combat antisemitism in exchange for access to federal funding. In a letter addressed to Harvard President Dean Garber, senior administration officials claimed Harvard had “fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment” in violation of the Civil Rights Act. “U.S. taxpayers invest enormously in U.S. colleges and universities, including Harvard,” the letter, signed by Josh Gruenbaum, Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at the General Services Administration (GSA); Sean Keveney, acting general counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Thomas Wheeler, acting general counsel at the Department of Education (ED), said. “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that all recipients are responsible stewards of taxpayer funds,” the memo, obtained by Fox News Digital, read. The letter stipulated that Harvard must ban the use of masks that could conceal identities at protests and establish a clear “time, place and manner” policy for protests. Harvard must also eliminate all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, adopt “merit-based” admissions and hiring reform and end any admissions based on race or national origin. TRUMP CUTS MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN GRANTS TO COLUMBIA OVER ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS, POTENTIALLY MORE TO COME The university must commit to “full cooperation” with the Department of Homeland Security and all other agencies in government, according to the letter. It also said Harvard must review and make changes to programs and departments that “fuel antisemitic harassment,” and cooperate with law enforcement. It must hold all recognized and unrecognized students accountable for violations of policy and ensure senior administration officials are responsible for disciplinary decisions. The three federal agencies — HHS, GSA and ED — last week announced a review of some $8 billion in “multi-year grant commitments” as part of a probe launched by the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. The review also includes some $255 million in contracts. “The message is clear: reform is not optional,” the task force told Fox News Digital when reached for comment. “The era of elite impunity is over. With billions in taxpayer dollars at stake, Harvard must either confront its institutional failures — including its inability to protect students from anti-Semitic abuse — or risk losing funding.” The university could not immediately be reached for comment. TRUMP COLLEGE CRACKDOWN: LIST OF STUDENTS DETAINED AMID ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUSES Weeks ago, the Trump administration clawed back more than $400 million in funding from Columbia University, demanding changes to disciplinary policy and placing some programs under administrative control. Columbia acquiesced to many of the trio of agencies’ demands — prompting backlash from liberal critics — and the university replaced its interim president, Katrina Armstrong. The university’s board of trustees denied caving to the administration, calling the new changes “Columbia-driven decisions made in accordance with our values and our mission.” “Where this work aligns with recommendations of others, we believe constructive dialogue makes sense,” the trustees wrote. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has targeted international students who study at U.S. universities and participate in Gaza protests that they say veer into pro-Hamas territory. Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 30 to “combat the explosion of anti-Semitism on our campuses and streets” since Oct. 7, 2023, and since then the State Department has revoked some 300 visas, many of them held by college students. “If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus — we’re not going to give you a visa,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said before adding, “Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa.” Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra said this week that the department was working on a contingency plan in case of federal funding cuts. “I know this news is extraordinarily disconcerting and that it’s hard to process,” Hoekstra said, according to the Harvard Crimson. “There is some important work that we, and only we, can do right now: maintain the continuity of our teaching and research mission.” Harvard and Columbia were among 10 universities the task force said it is reviewing. Harvard has already instituted a hiring freeze in response to the review, given the uncertain funding environment.
Republicans charge ahead on Trump budget, setting up marathon Senate votes
Senate Republicans cleared the way on Thursday for an eventual vote on the latest version of a budget to push through several key agenda items for President Trump, including the southern border and extending his 2017 tax cuts. A motion to proceed was agreed to in the upper chamber just one day after Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham unveiled the Senate’s amendment to the House’s budget plan. The Senate agreed to the motion by a vote of 52 to 48, along party lines. The only exception was Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who voted against it. Paul has criticized the budget framework’s provision on the debt ceiling. The changes made by the Senate include raising the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion and making Trump’s tax cuts permanent by using what’s known as a current policy baseline, as determined by the chairman. TED CRUZ CLASHES WITH KEY DEMOCRAT OVER ‘SECOND PHASE OF LAWFARE’ THROUGH FEDERAL JUDGES’ ORDERS The Thursday motion kicks off roughly a day’s worth of debate, before a “vote-a-rama” begins. The marathon amendment votes are expected to take place at some point on Friday afternoon or evening after debate concludes. During a vote-a-rama, senators are able to introduce an unlimited number of amendments, and many are expected to get floor votes. GOP DEFECTORS HELP SENATE ADVANCE RESOLUTION TO CANCEL TRUMP TARIFFS DESPITE WHITE HOUSE VETO WARNING After the amended budget resolution passes in the Senate, which it is expected to do at some point on Saturday, the House will need to take it up again. This is a significant step forward for Republicans in their quest to get Trump’s priorities done through the budget reconciliation process. This key budget process lowers the vote threshold in the Senate from 60 to 51, allowing the GOP to pass things without support from their Democrat counterparts. Reconciliation is considered a key tool for the Republican trifecta in Washington to get Trump’s policies passed. SENATE DEMS FORESHADOW MORE FORCED VOTES TO BLOCK TRUMP’S EMERGENCY ORDERS Early on, Republicans in the House and Senate were split on how to organize the key resolution. House Republican leaders largely preferred doing one reconciliation bill that addressed both the border and tax cuts, while Senate Republicans wanted to separate the issues into two bills. Republicans in the lower chamber made it clear they would only accept one reconciliation bill that included border funding and tax cut extensions, as they have less room for dissent in their slim majority. SCOOP: LINDSEY GRAHAM AMENDMENT SIGNALS GOP BUDGET BREAKTHROUGH, SETS STAGE FOR TRUMP AGENDA Each chamber passed their preferred resolution, but Trump’s support for one bill on multiple occasions put the House’s strategy over the top. Senate Republicans themselves even described their resolution as a backup plan to the House’s.
Trump wants Musk to stay with administration, says DOGE found something ‘horrible’ today
President Donald Trump said he wants Elon Musk to stay on his team “as long as possible” during a conversation with reporters Thursday, adding DOGE had found something “horrible” without divulging details. The president made his remarks during a conversation with reporters on Air Force One after Trump was asked how much longer Musk would stay on as a “special government employee.” The questions followed a report from Politico this week claiming Trump had told his inner circle that Musk will be leaving his role as a “special government employee” with DOGE soon. The report cited internal frustrations with Musk’s “unpredictability” and his potential to be a “political liability.” “Elon is fantastic. He’s a patriot,” Trump told reporters, adding Musk can stay at the White House “as long as he’d like” and that he personally wants him to stay “as long as possible.” JD VANCE FIRES BACK AT CRITICS OF TRUMP TARIFFS, ADDRESSES ELON MUSK’S DOGE FUTURE “I like smart people, and he’s a smart person. I also like him, personally,” Trump added. “We’re in no rush. But there will be a point at which time Elon’s going to have to leave.” “Special government employees” are permitted to work for the federal government for “no more than 130 days in a 365-day period,” according to data from the Office of Government Ethics. Musk’s 130-day timeframe, beginning on Inauguration Day, would expire May 30. When asked if he would consider appointing Musk to a different post to keep him around longer, Trump said that could be a possibility. “I would. I think Elon’s great,” Trump responded. “But he also has a company to run, or a number of companies to run.” MUSK NOT LEAVING YET, WRAPPING UP WORK ON SCHEDULE ONCE ‘INCREDIBLE WORK AT DOGE IS COMPLETE’: WHITE HOUSE According to the president, “the secretaries” within his cabinet will take over the work Musk has been doing with DOGE upon Musk’s exit from DOGE. That work, Trump added, found something “horrible” and “incredible” today, but he would not divulge further details to reporters. Musk’s work with DOGE officially began after President Trump signed an executive order establishing the office Jan. 20. The role of “special government employee” was created in 1962 to permit the executive or legislative branch to hire temporary employees for specific short-term initiatives. When asked for a specific date of Musk’s potential departure, the president responded that it could be as long as “a few months.” “I’d keep him as long as I can keep him,” Trump told reporters earlier this week. “He’s a very talented guy. You know, I love very smart people. He’s very smart. And he’s done a good job.” The president added on Air Force One that he envisions many of the employees working under Musk at DOGE will eventually find their way into full-time positions in various federal agencies.
Gov. Greg Abbott touts his influence on Texas courts to conservative law group
Abbott’s closed-door address to the Federalist Society at UT Law Thursday drew peaceful protests.
Judge Boasberg poised to hold Trump admin in contempt, takes down names of DHS officials: ‘Pretty sketchy’
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Thursday grilled Trump administration lawyers over whether they defied a court order blocking deportations under a wartime immigration law — a potential step toward holding the administration in contempt. At issue is the administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals, including alleged members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. Boasberg pressed Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign on why the government appeared to ignore an emergency injunction last month halting those deportations. The administration has appealed the underlying case to the Supreme Court. But for now, Boasberg is weighing whether there is probable cause to move forward with contempt proceedings — a question that remained open after a tense exchange in court. Boasberg said he would issue a decision as early as next week on how to proceed if he finds grounds to hold the administration in contempt. WHO IS JAMES BOASBERG, THE US JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S DEPORTATION EFFORTS? During the hearing, Ensign was repeatedly questioned about who in the Trump administration had information about the flights and when the three deportation flights left U.S. soil for El Salvador. At least 261 migrants were deported that day, including more than 100 Venezuelan nationals who were subject to removal “solely on the basis” of the law temporarily blocked by the court. “You maintain that the government was in full compliance with the court’s order on March 15, correct?” Boasberg asked Ensign. Ensign said yes, to which the judge responded: “It seems to me the government acted in bad faith that day.” “If you really believed everything you did that day was legal and would survive a court challenge, you would not have operated the way that you did,” Boasberg said. ‘WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT’: US JUDGE REAMS TRUMP ADMIN FOR DAYS-LATE DEPORTATION INFO He repeatedly questioned Ensign about his knowledge of the flights and whether any related materials were classified, which could have triggered state secrets protections. Government lawyers have refused to share information in court about the deportation flights, and whether the plane (or planes) of migrants knowingly departed U.S. soil after the judge ordered them not to do so, citing national security protections. But according to Ensign, that may not have been an issue. He told Boasberg the flight information likely wasn’t classified, prompting the judge to wonder aloud why it hadn’t been shared with him in an ex parte setting. “Can you think of one instance” where the state secrets privilege was invoked using unclassified info? he asked Ensign, who struggled to respond. “Pretty sketchy,” Boasberg said aloud in response. Another focus of Thursday’s hearing was timing — both when President Donald Trump signed the proclamation authorizing use of the Alien Enemies Act, and when federal agents began loading planes with migrants bound for El Salvador. Boasberg noted that the Trump administration began loading the planes the morning of March 15, hours before the flights left the U.S. “So then it’s not crazy to infer there was prior knowledge and actions ahead of the Saturday night deportations?” he asked Ensign. The judge pressed the lawyer over the names, locations and agencies of individuals who were privy to the removals, as well as internal conversations with other administration officials who may have been listening in to the court proceedings. “Who did you tell about my order?” Boasberg asked. “Once the hearing was done, who did you tell?” Ensign says he relayed the information to Department of Homeland Security contacts and State Department officials, among others. He listed the names of the individuals, at Boasberg’s request, which the judge then carefully transcribed onto a pad of paper, interjecting at times to clarify the spelling or ask for their job titles. The hearing is the latest in a flurry of legal battles over the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. It follows Boasberg’s order requiring officials to explain why they failed to comply with his directive to return the deportation flights — and whether they knowingly defied the court. Boasberg told both sides he would see them again next week for arguments on the plaintiffs’ preliminary injunction motion, set for Tuesday. The hearing also marks the latest clash between Trump and Boasberg, whom the president has publicly denounced as an “activist” judge and called for his impeachment.
Trump tariffs put unprecedented pressure on business plans, livelihoods
[unable to retrieve full-text content] The only option for many businesses and workers is to wait and see what level of harm Trump’s tariffs will inflict.
Trump: Tariff rollout ‘going very well’ amid market selloff
NewsFeed “The country is going to boom.” President Trump says he thinks the rollout of his global tariffs is “going very well.” On a day that financial markets around the world fell, Trump told reporters at the White House that “the markets are going to boom, the country is going to boom.” Published On 3 Apr 20253 Apr 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
At least 16 killed as two refugee boats sink off Turkiye and Greece
Greek and Turkish coastguards still searching for two missing people from the two unrelated accidents. Two boats carrying refugees sank in the narrow stretch of sea between Turkiye and the Greek island of Lesbos, leaving at least 16 people dead, according to officials from both countries. The accidents on the boats, which together carried about 66 people, occurred several hours apart on Thursday, with authorities on either side unaware of the other nation’s rescue efforts. On the Greek side, the country’s coastguard said that one of its patrol boats came across a small dinghy of about five metres (5.5 yards) in length that was taking on water, and rescued 23 people – 11 minors, eight men and four women – out of a reported total of 31 passengers. Authorities later recovered the bodies of seven people – three women, two boys, one girl and one man – after a search and rescue operation that included helicopters, vessels from the coastguard, and the FRONTEX European border agency. The Greek coastguard said rescuers were still searching on Thursday evening for a young girl who had been reported as missing by survivors. Advertisement One of the survivors, identified only as a 20-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of being a people smuggler after other passengers allegedly identified him as having piloted the dinghy, the coastguard said. Separately in Turkiye, authorities from the northwestern province of Canakkale said the coastguard received an emergency call for help from a boat early Thursday morning, rescuing 25 people after deploying three boats and a helicopter. The statement said that nine bodies had been recovered and the search for one missing person continued. Turkish media said the survivors were taken to a hospital in Turkiye. Shipwrecks are very common on the short but perilous route between the Turkish coast and the nearby Greek islands of Samos, Rhodes and Lesbos that serve as entry points to the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty. The Greek government has cracked down with increased patrols at sea, and many smuggling rings have shifted their operations south, using larger boats to transport people from the northern coast of Africa to southern Greece. Last year, more than 54,000 people used what has become known as the eastern Mediterranean route heading to Greece, and more than 7,700 crossed Greece’s small land border with Turkiye, according to figures from the United Nations. A total of 125 people were reported dead or missing. Adblock test (Why?)
Here’s a closer look at Trump’s tariff plan: What to know about the new duties
President Donald Trump laid out his plans for imposing a host of new tariffs on imports to the U.S. Wednesday — a day his administration touted as “Liberation Day” and vowed would restore the American dream. Trump unveiled the new tariffs in a ceremony at the White House’s Rose Garden for a “Make America Wealthy Again” event, where he declared that these new duties would usher in a wave of jobs for U.S. workers. “For nations that treat us badly, we will calculate the combined rate of all their tariffs, nonmonetary barriers and other forms of cheating,” Trump said Wednesday. “And because we are being very kind, we will charge them approximately half of what they are and have been charging us,” he said. “So, the tariffs will be not a full reciprocal. I could have done that. Yes. But it would have been tough for a lot of countries.” THESE ARE THE ‘DIRTY 15’ COUNTRIES TRUMP MIGHT TARGET WITH LIBERATION DAY TARIFFS The Trump administration’s tariff plan sets out a baseline duty of 10% on all imports to the U.S., while customized tariffs will be set for countries who have higher tariffs in place on American goods. The baseline tariffs of 10% will take effect on Saturday, while the others will take effect on April 9. The Trump administration previously imposed a 25% tariff on imported auto vehicles, up to 25% tariffs on certain goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 20% tariff on shipments from China. The White House said that tariffs already imposed on Canada and Mexico remain unaltered. However, new tariffs on China will be coupled with existing duties on Beijing. Here is a look at the tariff rates that the Trump administration imposed as part of Liberation Day: The Trump administration provided a chart of the tariff rates other countries charge on U.S. imports, suggesting that the tariffs the U.S. was imposing were not nearly as stringent as they could have been in order to reach reciprocity. For example, the chart says that Japan has imposed a 46% tariff on U.S. goods, while the U.S. is only implementing a 24% tariff on Japanese goods imported to the U.S. Trump and his administration have long railed against other countries’ trade practices and accused them of engaging in unfair trade practices against the U.S. — and argued that tariffs will help return manufacturing jobs to the U.S. As a result, he and his administration have called for employing tariffs to address the nation’s 2024 record $1.2 trillion trade deficit. “For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” Trump said Wednesday. Tariffs function as a tax that governments collect on foreign goods and services that manufacturers import. They are collected while undergoing customs clearance in foreign ports, according to the International Trade Administration. The tariffs are expected to affect a host of goods, ranging from electronics, like iPhones that are predominantly manufactured in China, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, to wine and other alcoholic beverages originating from European Union countries, like Italy. Trump’s new tariffs prompted backlash from members of both parties in Congress, who have warned that the tariffs will raise prices for American consumers. Specifically, the Senate moved to approve a resolution by a 51–48 margin Wednesday evening following Trump’s announcement that would rescind the emergency declaration on fentanyl trafficking that Trump used to justify duties on Canada. Four Republicans joined the voting with Democrats in support of the resolution, although it has low odds of passing in the Republican-controlled House. Meanwhile, other countries have spoken out against the tariffs, including allies like Canada and Australia. TRUMP TOUTS RETURN OF ‘AMERICAN DREAM’ IN HISTORIC TARIFF ANNOUNCEMENT “In our judgment, it will be negative on the U.S. economy that will have an impact on us,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters Wednesday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized the Trump administration’s new duties as “not the act of a friend” during a press conference Thursday. Meanwhile, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent cautioned other countries against retaliating in response to the new tariffs, warning that the U.S. would not hesitate to take action again. “My advice to every country right now: Do not retaliate,” Bessent said in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday. “If you retaliate, there will be escalation.” The Associated Press and Fox News’ Emma Colton and Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.