Trump moves to cut $100 million in federal contracts with Harvard

Trump moves to cut $100 million in federal contracts with Harvard

US President Donald Trump’s administration plans to cancel all remaining contracts with Harvard University, worth about $100 million, according to a letter seen by  The letter, dated May 27 and signed by Josh Gruenbaum of the General Services Administration (GSA), instructs agencies to end contracts and “find alternative vendors” for future services.

The letter tells agencies to respond by June 6 with a list of contracts to be cancelled. Some contracts considered “critical” will be transitioned to other vendors rather than cancelled immediately.

According to an unnamed administration official, contracts with around nine federal agencies would be affected. Examples include a $49,858 contract with the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of coffee drinking and a $25,800 Homeland Security contract for senior executive training. Some contracts may already have received “stop work” orders.

The letter states: “Going forward, we also encourage your agency to seek alternative vendors for future services where you had previously considered Harvard.”

This latest move is part of the administration’s wider attempt to cut ties with the university. Last month, the administration froze $3.2 billion in grants and contracts, and attempted to block Harvard from enrolling international students.