September 30, 2025
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HHS opens debarment process to bar Harvard

The Trump administration has renewed efforts to exclude Harvard from billions in federal research grants after previously cutting more than $2.6 billion in funding — a move a federal judge in Boston recently ordered reversed. President Trump said he is “close to finalizing” a separate deal with Harvard that would include a $500 million payment to create a network of trade schools to teach AI and other skills.

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🔍 Key Facts

  • President Trump said his administration is "close to finalizing" a deal with Harvard.
  • Trump said the agreement would include a $500 million payment from Harvard to create a network of trade schools to teach AI and other skills.
  • The administration had previously cut more than $2.6 billion in Harvard research grants.
  • A federal judge in Boston recently ordered the reversal of those funding cuts.
  • These details were reported by PBS News on 2025-09-30.

📍 Contextual Background

  • Debarment is a federal administrative process that can render an entity ineligible to receive federal grants.
  • The Office for Civil Rights is an office within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • The Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services referred Harvard University to a debarment process.
  • The Office for Civil Rights sent a letter addressing the referral to Harvard President Alan Garber.
  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is the oldest university in the United States.

📰 Sources (2)

A deal with Harvard University is close, Trump says
PBS News by Collin Binkley, Associated Press September 30, 2025
New information:
  • President Trump said his administration is 'close to finalizing' a deal with Harvard.
  • Trump said the agreement would include a $500 million payment from Harvard to create a network of trade schools (teaching AI and other skills).
  • Article reiterates that the administration had cut more than $2.6 billion in Harvard research grants and notes a recent federal judge in Boston ordered reversal of those funding cuts.