Scoop: Congress' Democrats threaten investigation if Harvard cuts deal with Trump

A group of House and Senate Democrats who attended Harvard are threatening their alma mater with a "rigorous" investigation if the school cuts a deal to end hostilities with President Trump, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The lawmakers' warning follows reports that the elite university is open to spending up to $500 million to settle things with the administration."We are alarmed that Harvard would contemplate a settlement of this magnitude under apparent political pressure," the Democrats wrote in a letter first obtained by Axios.The letter was led by Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), along with Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).State of play: The Trump administration has launched a full-scale assault on powerful law firms, universities and media outlets as part of a crackdown on what it says are left-wing cultural values.Academia has been a particular target for Trump, who extracted a $200 million fine from Columbia University to end a probe into alleged civil rights violations and unfreeze the school's federal grants and contracts.The New York Times reported Monday that Harvard has "signaled a willingness" in negotiations with the administration to meet their demands to spend as much as $500 million to resolve their issues.Spokespeople for Harvard and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.What they're saying: The congressional Democrats warned that "any such agreement may warrant rigorous Congressional oversight and inquiry."They argued that it "cannot be viewed in isolation" and would instead be seen as "part of a broader pattern of attempted interference ... in the governance of independent institutions.""Any acquiescence to unjustified political threats would not only diminish Harvard's standing but also make it complicit in the erosion of fundamental democratic principles," they added.In addition to Liccardo, Schiff and Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and more than a half dozen House Democrats who are alumni of HarvardBetween the lines: The lawmakers are already laying the groundwork for an investigation if Democrats retake control of Congress in 2026.In their letter, they asked for details about the school's negotiations with Trump officials, the terms of any potential deal and whether students and faculty have had input on the talks.They also asked how Harvard plans to "uphold its stated commitment to academic freedom and institutional integrity in the face of current threats or pressures."

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