The U.S. Department of Education said on September 19 that the Department of Education has put Harvard University in a state of ¡°strengthening cash regulation.¡± This move forced Harvard University to use its funds first when granting aid to students, before federal funds could be used.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement: ¡°Harvard is still allowed to participate in federal student aid programs at this stage, but these measures are necessary to protect taxpayers.¡±

In addition, the Ministry of Education also asked Harvard to issue a $36 million, irrevocable credit certificate showing that the university ¡°is able to cope with potential debt and fulfill its financial commitments to students and the Ministry of Education.¡±

McMahon also warned that the Ministry of Education could ¡°take further enforcement action¡± if Harvard does not provide records that prove that the school no longer takes into account racial factors when enrolled.

According to Reuters, Harvard University has a donation of 53 billion dollars, and there is no indication that the school is facing funding problems.

Harvard did not respond to the restrictions, but announced that $46 million in research funding, previously frozen by the Department of Health and Public Services, could be restored.

According to AFP, the education ministry¡¯s restrictive measures are the latest in the Trump administration¡¯s ongoing clash with universities.

On September 3rd, Judge Alison Burroughs of the Federal District Court of Massachusetts made a ruling on the federal funding case of Harvard University, ruling that the Trump administration's freezing of billions of dollars of scientific research funds in Harvard in the name of combating anti-Semitism violated the U.S. Constitution, and asked the government to unfreeze the related funds.

Several U.S. government officials have accused U.S. universities such as Harvard of advocating so-called ¡°alarming¡± ideologies that failed to provide Jewish students with ¡°sufficient protection¡± during university-campus demonstrations in support of Palestine.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January this year, the U.S. government has asked many colleges and universities to eradicate anti-Semitism and adjust their enrollment policies that favor ethnic minorities, otherwise they will face risks such as funding cuts or cuts off. Some colleges and universities choose to compromise and reach a "rectification" agreement with the government, while Harvard chooses "hard".

On April 14, Harvard rejected the U.S. government¡¯s request to adjust the school administration structure, recruitment and enrollment policies. The U.S. government announced on the same day that it would freeze Harvard¡¯s total annual grants of $2.2 billion and $60 million in multiannual contracts. On April 21, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, accusing it of attempting to control Harvard¡¯s academic decisions by means of freezing federal funds.

The Trump administration also took measures in May and June to restrict Harvard University from enrolling international students, and the relevant measures were temporarily suspended by a federal judge. (Bao Xuelin)