Harvard University in the United States will ultimately refuse funding under the federal economic support plan, it announced on Wednesday April 22, after being blacklisted by Donald Trump himself.
During his daily press conference, the American president revealed on Tuesday that the faculty should receive a contribution from the government but that they "Shouldn't take it". "Harvard will refund the money", he assured, about the amount, which the local newspaper The Harvard Crimson said it was $ 8.6 million.
TRUMP: “Harvard should pay that money pay … I don’t like it. This is meant for workers, this isn’t meant for one o … https://t.co/SmKWR1MW83
$ 40 billion reserve fund
"They have one of the largest financial reserves in the country, perhaps in the world, and they are going to return the money", he insisted. According to the university's annual report, the Harvard reserve fund reached $ 40.9 billion at the end of June 2019. Tuesday, after the speech by the American president, the institution said it had not requested these funds and plan to redistribute all of it to support its students.
But on Wednesday, Harvard finally announced in a press release that it simply gave up receiving the payment. "We are concerned that the attention paid to Harvard by politicians and others in connection with the program (Support) may affect participation " to this plan, said the leaders of the faculty.
5/5 We remain fully committed to providing the financial support that we have promised our students. Read our full… https://t.co/uH8doZRY57
In addition to Donald Trump, several Republican figures have publicly expressed concern that the university may receive funding as part of the plan to help companies and organizations affected by the coronavirus crisis.
