Introduction to the Controversy
WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday re-upped his threat to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, escalating a showdown with the first major college that has defied the administration’s efforts to crack down on campus activism.
Background of the Dispute
He’s underscoring that pledge even as federal law prohibits senior members of the executive branch from asking the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or an investigation. The White House has said any IRS actions will be conducted independently of the president.
Trump’s Statement
“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status,” Trump wrote on his social media site Friday morning from Palm Beach, Fla., where he is spending the weekend. “It’s what they deserve!”
Reasons Behind the Threat
The president has questioned the fate of Harvard’s tax-exempt status — which a majority of U.S. colleges and universities have — ever since the school refused to comply with the administration’s demands for broad government and leadership changes, revisions to its admissions policy, and audits of how diversity is viewed on the campus. That prompted the administration to block more than $2 billion in federal grants to the Cambridge, Mass., institution.
Administrative Actions
The Treasury Department directed a senior official at the Internal Revenue Service to begin the process of revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status shortly after a social media post from Trump in mid-April questioning it, although the White House has suggested that the tax agency’s scrutiny of Harvard began before Trump’s public comments targeting the school.
Political Reactions
Democrats say Trump’s actions against Harvard are purely political. The Senate minority leader, Charles E. Schumer, along with Massachusetts’ two Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and the Senate Finance Committee chairman, Ron Wyden of Oregon, called for an inspector general investigation into Trump’s attempts to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status.
Concerns Over Constitutional Rights
Trump’s move “raises troubling constitutional questions, including whether the president is trying to squelch Harvard’s free speech rights and whether the revocation of its tax-exempt status will deprive the university of its due process rights,” the senators wrote in a letter Friday to Heather Hill, the acting Treasury inspector general for tax administration.
Legal Implications
Mike Kaercher, deputy director of NYU’s Tax Law Center, said: “Overwhelming bipartisan majorities in Congress have enacted laws making it a crime for the President and his staff to request an audit or investigation of a particular taxpayer.”
Administrative Response
An IRS representative did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
Broader Campaign
Trump’s battle against Harvard is part of a broader campaign the administration is framing as an effort to root out antisemitism on college campuses. But the White House also sees a political upside in the fight, framing it as a bigger war against elite institutions decried by Trump’s loyal supporters.
Public Statements
The “next chapter of the American story will not be written by The Harvard Crimson,” Trump said Thursday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he delivered the commencement address at the University of Alabama. “It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide.”
Additional Measures
The Harvard Crimson is that school’s student newspaper. The Crimson Tide refers to the Alabama school’s athletic teams.
In addition to threatening Harvard’s tax-exempt status and halting federal grants, the Trump administration wants to block Harvard from being able to enroll international students.
Conclusion
The dispute between the Trump administration and Harvard University over its tax-exempt status reflects deeper issues of political influence, free speech, and the role of elite institutions in American society. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the IRS will proceed and what implications this will have for Harvard and other universities.
FAQs
- Q: Why is President Trump threatening Harvard’s tax-exempt status?
A: The threat is part of a broader dispute over Harvard’s compliance with the administration’s demands for changes in governance, admissions policy, and diversity audits, as well as a campaign against what the administration perceives as antisemitism on college campuses. - Q: Is it legal for the President to influence the IRS in such matters?
A: Federal law prohibits senior members of the executive branch from asking the IRS to conduct or terminate an audit or investigation, suggesting that any actions should be independent of the president’s direct influence. - Q: What are the potential consequences for Harvard if it loses its tax-exempt status?
A: Losing tax-exempt status could have significant financial implications for Harvard, affecting its ability to receive donations and potentially impacting its operations and ability to provide services. - Q: How have Democratic lawmakers responded to Trump’s threat?
A: Democrats have criticized the move as politically motivated and have called for an investigation into the president’s actions, citing concerns over free speech and due process rights.
