Sat Apr 19 07:51:56 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Disavows Controversial Letter Demanding Oversight of Harvard
**Cambridge, MA** – A controversial letter sent to Harvard University last week by the White House task force on antisemitism has been officially disavowed by a top Trump administration official. The letter, dated April 11th, contained what Harvard deemed highly intrusive demands regarding hiring, admissions, and curriculum.
According to the New York Times, a senior administration official contacted Harvard shortly after the university publicly announced its intention to resist the demands, claiming the letter was unauthorized. Sources identified Sean Keveney, acting general counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services and a task force member, as the sender.
While the content of the letter is reportedly genuine, confusion within the administration exists regarding its intended recipient. Some believed it was sent prematurely, while others maintain it was for internal use only. The sources who confirmed these details spoke on condition of anonymity.
The incident has escalated tensions between Harvard and the Trump administration. Prior to receiving the letter, the university had been engaged in what it considered productive discussions with the task force. However, the letter’s aggressive demands led Harvard to believe further dialogue was unproductive, setting the stage for a major conflict between the prestigious institution and the President. The New York Times described the situation as a “tectonic battle.”
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