Harvard agrees to $500 mln settlement amid civil rights dispute with Trump — NYT

Harvard University is prepared to pay up to $500 million to resolve a dispute with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, four sources familiar with the negotiations told The New York Times.

The proposed settlement follows allegations of civil rights violations, including antisemitism and excessive focus on inclusivity. One source said Harvard is reluctant to make direct payments to the federal government, and financial terms are still under discussion.

Last week, Columbia University agreed to a similar deal worth $200 million. According to the NYT, Trump personally demanded a larger sum from Harvard and made it clear no deal would be reached without a “hundreds of millions” payment.

Unlike Columbia, Harvard has resisted calls to allow an external monitor to oversee the agreement, viewing it as a “red line” and threat to its independence.

Harvard declined to comment. The White House said it was confident the university would ultimately “embrace the president’s vision,” and a fair agreement remained likely.