Congress
After Federal Ruling Saves SNAP Benefits, Cambridge Will Still Allocate $500,000 to Assist Food Insecurity
The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Community Foundation will allocate $500,000 to support food pantries and SNAP recipients, even after a judge required the Trump administration to allocate emergency funds to the program.
Rep. Pressley Endorses Six Incumbents Running for City Council as Race Heats Up
Representative Ayanna S. Pressley (D-Mass.) endorsed six candidates for Cambridge City Council on Tuesday, just one week before the Nov. 4 elections that will decide the most crowded race for local office in modern history.
Government Shutdown Cuts Off Data Access, Stalls Grant Applications for Harvard Researchers
As the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week, researchers across Harvard have been left uncertain about whether they will regain access to federal funds and government data for future studies.
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman Accuses Democrats of Silence on Ceasefire at Private HKS Event
Senator John K. Fetterman (D-PA) said Democrats only support ceasefires in Gaza when it is politically advantageous at a talk co-hosted by the Institute of Politics and Harvard Chabad on Sunday afternoon.
Former Jan. 6 Prosecutor Denounces Trump’s Decision to Pardon Rioters at HLS Talk
Mike Romano, who supervised the federal government’s effort to prosecute crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol, slammed President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon the rioters during a discussion at Harvard Law School on Wednesday.
Rep. Seth Moulton ’01 To Face Off Against Sen. Markey in Senate Run
Representative Seth W. Moulton ’01 (D-Mass.) launched his bid for Senate Wednesday in a posted campaign video, denouncing the age of incumbent Ed J. Markey (D-Mass.) in his announcement.
Harvard Faculty Say Shutdown Could Erode Trust in Government
Congressional Democrats and Republicans are in a healthcare standoff, disputing over whether the Affordable Care Act’s subsidies should last into 2026. Experts said the loss of services that result from the shutdown will have an impact on American’s daily lives.
House Republicans Demand Harvard Disclose Records on Campus Antisemitism
Two Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee accused Harvard of fostering “a hostile antisemitic environment” and demanded a series of internal records related to antisemitism complaints in a Monday letter to Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76.
DOJ Sues Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 Over Sanctuary City Policy
The lawsuit targets a city policy, the Boston Trust Act, which prohibits police from working with ICE on civil immigration enforcement efforts, including prohibiting police officers from asking immigration status, sharing information with ICE, or “performing the functions of an immigration officer.”
Congressional Democrats Threaten To Investigate If Harvard Settles With Trump Administration
Fourteen House and Senate Democrats warned Harvard on Thursday that they would consider launching a congressional investigation into any major settlement between the University and the Trump administration.
House Republicans Zero In on Now-Defunct Training Program to Accuse Harvard Kennedy School of CCP Ties
A Republican-led House committee accused the Harvard Kennedy School of partnering with an organization linked to the Chinese Communist Party in a Wednesday letter to Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76.
Federal Funding for the Allston I-90 is in Danger. Faster Progress Might Have Saved It.
A crucial chunk of funding for the decade-in-the-making realignment of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Allston is under threat following the passage of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which eliminates the source of a $335 million grant to the project.
Harvard Pays $90K to Trump-Linked Lobbying Firm in Second Quarter of 2025
Harvard paid lobbying firm Ballard Partners $90,000 in the second quarter of 2025 as the University broadened its federal advocacy to include direct engagement with the White House, according to a disclosure filed Tuesday.
Sen. Ed Markey Throws His Weight Behind Michelle Wu ’07 in Boston Mayoral Race
Senator Ed J. Markey (D-Mass.) has officially announced his support for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 in her mayoral run, adding to a growing list of endorsements for her reelection campaign.
Harvard Officials Say Federal Actions Could Cost the University $1 Billion Annually
Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 warned Monday that the combined financial impact of sweeping federal policy changes — including research funding cuts and a sharp increase in the tax on endowment income — could cost the University up to $1 billion annually.
Trump Signs Spending Package Into Law, Imposing 8% Tax on Harvard’s Endowment Income
President Donald Trump signed into law a sweeping tax and spending package that significantly raises the federal excise tax on Harvard’s endowment income on Friday — a move that could cost the University more than $200 million a year.
‘Big Ugly Bill’: Mass. Officials Condemn Republican Megabill Ahead of Trump’s Signing
As Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” makes its way to President Donald Trump’s desk, Massachusetts officials condemned it as cruel and said it would hike costs for the state.
House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Harvard for Financial Aid Documents in Ivy League Antitrust Probe
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) issued a subpoena to Harvard on Thursday, demanding documents on the school’s financial aid process as part of an ongoing congressional investigation into alleged tuition-fixing across the Ivy League.
Stefanik Calls On SEC to Investigate Harvard’s $750 Million Bond Disclosure
Representative Elise M. Stefanik ’06 (R-N.Y.) alleged that Harvard should have told bondholders in an April 9 notice to expect financial fallout from defying the Trump administration’s demands. It is not clear that Harvard had already decided to reject the demands at the time of the bond offering.
Senate Finance Committee Proposal for 8% Endowment Tax Could Cost Harvard $200 Million Per Year
The Senate Finance Committee released proposed changes to the House’s tax and spending bill that would introduce an 8 percent tax on large endowments. Down from the 21 percent rate passed by the House, the proposal would still be a sixfold hike from the 1.4 percent Harvard currently pays.
House Committee To Investigate Harvard’s Hiring Practices for Racial Discrimination
Nine Republican lawmakers on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce opened an investigation into Harvard’s faculty hiring practices on Tuesday, claiming Harvard may have violated federal employment discrimination law by considering race and gender.
The Government Inquiries Hounding Harvard
Harvard and its expanding legal arm are challenging 12 federal agencies in court. But beyond the high-profile lawsuits, Harvard faces at least 10 federal investigations — and more hard choices.
House Narrowly Passes GOP Tax Bill Targeting Harvard’s Endowment with 21 Percent Tax
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping Republican-backed tax and spending bill Thursday that would impose a 21 percent tax on Harvard’s endowment returns — the latest in a series of federal measures inflicting harsh financial penalties on the University.
House Republicans Threaten To Subpoena Harvard in Antitrust Probe, Despite Extended Document Submission Deadline
The House Judiciary Committee is prepared to subpoena Harvard for allegedly failing to submit documents requested as part of an antitrust tuition collusion investigation launched earlier this month, according to a House staffer familiar with the plans.
6 Members of Congress Call for Release of HMS Researcher
Five U.S. Representatives and a D.C. delegate sent the Trump administration a letter demanding the release of Harvard Medical School researcher Kseniia Petrova on Tuesday, adding their voices to a growing group of legislators criticizing her arrest.