'Does not solve problem': Education secretary Linda McMahon on Harvard president Alan Garber's pay cut

Time of India

16-05-2025

Education secretary Linda McMahon on Harvard president Alan Garber's pay cut (Picture credit: AP)
US education secretary
Linda McMahon
has questioned the significance of
Harvard University
president Alan Garber's decision to take a 25% salary cut, arguing that it does little to address ongoing concerns about antisemitism and ideological imbalance on campus.
"I'm not quite sure today with the president of Harvard, President Garber, taking a salary decrease is somehow a statement that they're changing their policies on antisemitism or racial discrimination," McMahon said on Fox Business' The Evening Edit.
'I don't think that does a whole lot to solve the problem', she added.
Harvard confirmed Garber's voluntary pay cut will take effect in the 2025-26 academic year.
The move follows the Trump administration's decision to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding and later cut an additional $450 million, citing Harvard's failure to curb antisemitism and ideological bias.
The university amended its lawsuit against the federal government on Tuesday after the second round of funding was terminated.
The Trump administration's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said that Harvard had "repeatedly failed to confront the pervasive race discrimination and antisemitic harassment plaguing its campus."
As per Fox News, the administration also warned that Harvard's tax-exempt status could be revoked if significant reforms are not implemented by August 2025.
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While Harvard insists the pay cut is part of broader cost-saving measures amid budget shortfalls, McMahon remains sceptical. She said the administration had attempted to engage Garber directly but was met with a lawsuit instead of dialogue. 'We wanted to sit down with President Garber. I spoke with him… and his answer was a lawsuit,' she further said.
According to the Washington Post, Garber's salary reduction, though largely symbolic,estimated around $300,000 to $350,000 based on previous salaries, is part of a broader internal response to financial strain.
Hiring has been paused, merit raises frozen, and faculty research funding scaled back. Ninety senior faculty members have pledged 10% of their salaries to support the university, and Harvard plans to allocate $250 million to fund research impacted by the cuts.
Still, McMahon insists the core issue is civil rights, not free speech. 'It is clear
antisemitism on campus
is a civil rights violation,' she said. 'Jewish students will tell us they're even afraid to go to activities on campus. That's clearly
civil rights violations
.'
As per The New York Times, Garber defended Harvard in a letter to McMahon, stating the university would comply with the law but would not "surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear of unfounded retaliation by the federal government."
As the legal battle continues, the Trump administration has hinted it may cut another $1 billion in funding.
Harvard, which first sued in April, has expanded its lawsuit to include more federal agencies.