From Inside Higher Ed: Alan Garber’s lawyer told him he shouldn’t speak at the Economic Club... in the midst of his institution’s protracted legal battle with the Trump administration over federal research funding. The Harvard University president did so anyway, spending almost an hour in a friendly interview with David Rubenstein, a Harvard donor and co-founder of the private equity firm the Carlyle Group. Throughout the interview, Garber argued that Harvard’s legal battle with the federal government—which has sought to cut off $2.2 billion in research funding over allegations that the university mishandled antisemitism on campus—could have far-reaching consequences not only for Harvard and the higher education sector but also the nation.
Though Harvard won the first round in its legal battle last fall when a federal judge determined that the funding freeze was illegal, a Trump administration appeal is still playing out. The Department of Justice also sued Harvard in February, alleging the university was slow-walking responses to an investigation into its admissions processes. (Harvard has denied the claims in the DOJ lawsuit.) ...
Garber added that while research universities and the federal government have long had a strong relationship, the fight threatens to imperil the nation’s standing in science and technology, which raises concerns not just for higher education but also for the national interest. He later noted that while universities are pursuing philanthropy, corporate partnerships and cost reductions to mitigate the impact of the funding cuts, ultimately “nobody can replace the federal government.”
Rubenstein also asked about the exodus of scientists and other researchers to countries such as China, though Garber noted that is not an issue for Harvard. He said he was more concerned about the declining inflow of talent due to restrictions on international students, including the recently proposed effort to limit the amount of time they can study in the U.S. But even as international enrollments slip across the country, Garber said, the numbers have held strong for Harvard, though the university has seen shifts. Some schools on campus have welcomed fewer international students, he said, while others have seen stronger numbers.
Rubenstein also asked him how Harvard has taken the fight to Capitol Hill through lobbying efforts. To date, Garber said, he’s met with an estimated 160 members of Congress. While some have been “hostile,” he said he’s had more good than bad meetings with lawmakers...
Full story at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2026/07/24/harvard-president-discusses-federal-fight.
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