US President Donald Trump has demanded that Harvard University pay a $500 million settlement in order to restore its federal funding, calling the prestigious institution “very bad.”

“We want nothing less than $500 million from Harvard. Don’t negotiate, Linda,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, addressing Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

He added, “They’ve been very bad. Don’t negotiate.”

AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HARVARD AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AWAITED

Harvard has become one of the primary targets of the Trump administration, with no agreement yet reached between the university and the federal government.

The administration has framed its actions as part of a wider effort to combat antisemitism on college campuses, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

However, Harvard has emerged as the central figure in a broader debate over academic freedom, federal oversight, and campus governance. Inside the White House, there is a belief that confronting elite universities resonates politically with voters.

Trump’s remarks come as a ruling is expected soon from a federal judge in Harvard’s legal challenge against the administration. The university has asked US District Judge Allison Burroughs for an expedited decision before September 3, the date it says it must begin filing paperwork to finalise the closure of certain federal grants.

OTHER IVY LEAGUES REACH SETTLEMENT WITH US TREASURY

While Harvard continues to fight the administration in court, other Ivy League schools have reached financial settlements.

Columbia University agreed to pay the US Treasury $200 million over three years, along with an additional $21 million to resolve investigations by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. An independent monitor will oversee compliance with the terms of the agreement.

Soon after, Brown University reached its own deal, agreeing to provide $50 million in grants over 10 years to workforce development organisations in Rhode Island. That arrangement avoided direct payments to the federal government. The agreement also clarified that nothing in the settlement would allow the US to influence Brown’s curriculum or academic content.

While the settlement with Harvard awaits, the White House is still in negotiations with Cornell University and Northwestern University.

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With inputs from agencies