Republican lawmakers are seeking to defund Harvard University amid alleged antisemitic sentiments being perpetuated on campus.
According to the New York Post, multiple GOP lawmakers are seeking to defund the college amid an investigation of Harvard president Claudine Gay.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) stated, “We must defund the rot in America’s higher education.”
“It is unacceptable and un-American that any taxpayer dollars are going to universities propping up their promulgation of antisemitism by supporting professors, students and staff many who have openly called for the genocide of Jews,” she added.
She then continued, “We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that schools that protect and encourage antisemitism are cut off from any and all federal funds.”
This has become a growing sentiment since the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced legislation to defund schools that allow antisemitism on campus.
He stated, “Any university or college that peddles blatant antisemitism, especially after Hamas’ brutal attack on Israeli civilians, women and children, has no place moulding the minds of future generations, never mind receiving millions of taxpayer funds to do so.”
“No college or university should receive a single cent from the federal government to fund violent antisemitism,” he added.
Just last week, a Republican-led House of Representatives committee opened an investigation of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) policies after Gay’s testimony, per Reuters.
Defunding Harvard is the only thing that will work
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 11, 2023
X, formerly Twitter, owner and billionaire, Elon Musk posted about the situation Monday stating, “Defunding Harvard is the only thing that will work.”
According to its fiscal report, Harvard received a record $676 million in direct payments from the federal government, as well as millions in taxpayer-funded gifts, student loans, and tax-free investments.
The university also received 64% of its research funding from taxpayer-funded federal departments with the Department of Health and Human Services allocating the most.
