President Trump’s call for Harvard University to return the money it received from the relief funds has finally borne fruits. In an official statement, the university has indicated its intentions to return the money to the Department of Education.
Harvard University has caved to President Trump’s call to return the money the received from the coronavirus relief passed last month by Congress. The decision to return the money came after sustained attacks from the White House, Department of Education, and the public who called on the university to return the funds.
Criticism of Harvard University by Trump
On Tuesday during the coronavirus daily briefing, Trump said the money would be returned by the university. He emphasized that the university had the biggest endowment in the country and taking the relief funds did not seem right.
Treasury Secretary had also joined other republican senators calling for the university to return the money. The $40 billion endowments the university receives would be enough during the coronavirus period and after the lockdown is lifted.
The senate republicans said the endowments were more than enough to help the students struggling financially. However, President Lawrence Bacow argued these endowments had been affected by the lockdowns and the funds had been affected. He continued by saying the university was preparing itself for hard financial times, whereby it would be unable to reopen in the fall.
Education Secretary, Betsy Devos had also raised concern on how elite universities such as Harvard and Stanford were able to receive money from the kitty. She also called on the university to return money received.
Harvard university defense and return of the money
Harvard officials, amid constant criticism for taking the funds, had announced the funds would go to low-income students. A spokesperson for the University, Jonathan Swain had indicated the funds would go directly to students in need of urgent financial help.
However, the controversy about the funds has now come to an end after the university agreed to return the funds. Officials said they would notify the Department of Education of their intent to redirect the $8.9 million relief funds they had taken. The statement continued by saying they hoped the funds would go to smaller institutions that needed the money in order to survive this crisis.
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