White House Says Harvard Letter Demanding DEI Shutdown Was an “Error”

The Trump administration is now walking back a controversial letter that called on Harvard University to dismantle its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and screen international students based on their beliefs, saying the message was sent in error.

The April 11th letter, signed by three senior officials across federal agencies, outlined a list of demands that sparked concern across academic circles. But according to The New York Times, people familiar with the situation say the letter was never officially authorized by the White House.

Despite the letter appearing formal, with signatures from Josh Gruenbaum (General Services Administration), Sean R. Kevney (Health and Human Services), and Thomas E. Wheeler (Department of Education), sources say it went out without proper clearance.

Harvard formally rejected the demands earlier this week, defending its hiring and admissions practices. The pushback prompted the White House to announce a freeze on $2.2 billion in federal grants, though the administration is now distancing itself from the original letter.

With nearly $9 billion in total federal funding at stake, this mix-up has added confusion to an already tense standoff between elite universities and the federal government. For now, Harvard is standing its ground, and the White House appears to be backpedaling.