Fact Check: President Donald Trump cut off research grants to Harvard University during his second term.

Fact Check: "President Donald Trump cut off research grants to Harvard University during his second term."

What We Know

The claim that President Donald Trump cut off research grants to Harvard University during his second term is misleading. While there were significant discussions and actions regarding federal funding to Harvard, the specifics of the claim require clarification.

In May 2025, the Trump administration announced plans to cancel federal contracts with Harvard University, which were estimated to be worth around $100 million (New York Times). This action was part of a broader strategy to redirect federal funds and was not a blanket cut-off of all research grants.
Reports indicated that nearly 1,000 grants were impacted by funding cuts, but these were primarily related to federal contracts rather than a complete cessation of all research funding (Nature).
The Trump administration also indicated that Harvard would not receive new federal grants until it complied with certain demands, which included changes to its admissions policies (AP News). However, this does not equate to a total cut-off of all research grants.
Harvard University responded to these funding challenges by announcing a $250 million initiative to support research that was affected by the funding freeze (Reuters). This suggests that while there were significant cuts, the university was still able to mobilize resources to continue its research efforts.

Analysis

The evidence surrounding the claim shows that while there were indeed funding cuts and a freeze on new grants from the Trump administration, it is inaccurate to state that all research grants were cut off. The administration's actions were targeted and conditional, rather than a comprehensive termination of funding.

The sources reporting on the funding situation, such as the New York Times and Nature, are reputable and provide detailed accounts of the funding landscape during Trump's presidency. However, they also indicate that the situation was complex and involved negotiations and conditions rather than outright cuts.
The AP News article highlights the administration's demands, which further complicates the narrative of a simple cut-off. The context of these demands is crucial in understanding the nature of the funding situation.
The claim lacks nuance, as it does not account for the ongoing discussions and the partial nature of the funding cuts. The assertion that all research grants were cut off is misleading and does not reflect the reality of the situation.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that President Donald Trump cut off research grants to Harvard University during his second term is misleading. While there were significant funding cuts and a freeze on new grants, it was not a total cessation of all research funding. The situation involved specific conditions and negotiations, which are critical to understanding the broader context of federal funding to Harvard.

Fact Check: President Donald Trump cut off research grants to Harvard University during his second term.