Harvard vs. Trump: The Funding Freeze

Harvard University is in a tough spot. The Trump administration has frozen over $2. 2 billion in grants and contracts. This move came after Harvard's president, Alan Garber, refused to meet certain demands. These demands included eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, screening international students for "supportive of terrorism or anti-Semitism, " and ensuring "viewpoint diversity" in hiring. Garber argued that these demands were an attempt to control the intellectual environment at Harvard and threatened free speech. The frozen funds are crucial for research and innovation in engineering and medicine. This isn't the first time the administration has threatened funding for universities. Some institutions have chosen to cooperate with the demands, but Harvard has stood firm. The administration's actions have raised concerns about the impact on research and the economic security of the nation. Meanwhile, there's a data controversy brewing. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, is accused of taking sensitive data from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). A whistleblower, Daniel Berulis, claims that DOGE requested high-level access and that there was a significant increase in data leaving the agency afterward. Security monitoring tools were reportedly disabled, and records were deleted. This has legal experts worried, especially since some ongoing NLRB cases involve Musk's companies. Berulis's claims aren't isolated. There have been multiple instances of government witnesses reporting DOGE's mishandling of sensitive data at various agencies. This raises questions about data security and the integrity of government operations. If DOGE did obtain access to NLRB information, it could potentially give Musk an advantage in court. In another development, El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, has no plans to release Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the U. S. Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who lived in Maryland for around 15 years, was deported despite being granted protections by a U. S. immigration judge. The Trump administration is downplaying the issue, claiming it's a paperwork problem. However, Garcia's lawyer denies any ties to the MS-13 gang, and the American Civil Liberties Union is challenging the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act in this case. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act has passed the House and is now headed to the Senate. This bill aims to implement significant reforms in voter registration, requiring proof of U. S. citizenship before registering to vote. However, this could make it harder for married women to vote, as many have adopted their spouse's last name and may not have the required documents readily available.