WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is doubling down on his second-term campaign against Harvard University with a sharp Memorial Day warning: he’s considering redirecting $3 billion in federal grants away from the Ivy League giant — and possibly funneling that money to America’s trade schools instead.
In a bold May 26 post on Truth Social, Trump declared, I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land. What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!
The battle between Trump and Harvard has been simmering since shortly after his inauguration. The president has targeted the university on multiple fronts — from challenging its tax-exempt status and freezing its federal funding to scrutinizing its international student population and diversity initiatives.
Harvard has resisted efforts by the administration to force changes to its hiring policies and admissions criteria that align with Trump’s political agenda. The university, along with other prestigious schools, has also faced criticism amid allegations that it hasn’t adequately protected Jewish students from antisemitic incidents on campus.
The administration’s tactics have included threats to revoke Harvard’s nonprofit status, blocking billions in federal grants, restricting foreign student enrollment, and lobbying Congress to impose higher taxes on university endowments.
Harvard has pushed back aggressively, winning a temporary restraining order on May 23 that allows it to continue enrolling international students while the dispute winds through the courts.
In recent developments, the administration has demanded a detailed list of Harvard’s foreign students. Trump accused the university on Truth Social of shielding what he called “radicalized lunatics” by refusing to provide the information.
Despite the president’s tough rhetoric, it remains unlikely he can unilaterally reallocate federal grant funds from Harvard to other institutions. Many of these grants are tied to specific projects — like medical research — which complicates any direct redistribution. Nonetheless, Trump’s mention of trade schools echoes a broader political conversation. Both he and former Vice President Kamala Harris have spotlighted vocational education during the 2024 campaign.
Interest in trade and vocational programs is rising sharply among young Americans as enrollment in traditional four-year colleges declines. The soaring cost of college education has pushed many students to explore alternative paths to stable, well-paying jobs. This shift has prompted bipartisan calls for increased investment in apprenticeship programs and trade school funding across the United States.
As the debate unfolds, Trump’s proposal to divert billions from elite universities like Harvard toward trade schools signals a fundamental reconsideration of how the country supports higher education and workforce development. Advocates argue that boosting funding for trade schools could help close the skills gap and prepare workers for the evolving economy. Critics, meanwhile, warn that undermining prestigious universities risks damaging America’s global leadership in research and innovation.
This ongoing showdown reflects deeper tensions in education policy — between traditional academic institutions and vocational training, between federal oversight and university autonomy, and between different visions for America’s future workforce.
Whether Trump’s bold plan will gain traction remains uncertain, but the conversation itself highlights the growing pressure on the nation to rethink how it invests in education amid shifting economic realities and social priorities. The coming months will reveal how this contentious battle over billions in grants unfolds — and what it ultimately means for students, universities, and the future of American education.
