NYT: Harvard Ready to Pay $500 Million for Trump Deal

Harvard University has expressed its willingness to accept the Trump administration's request for up to $500 million to settle its dispute with the White House over the pro-Gaza protests, as talks between the two sides intensify, the New York Times reports, citing four people familiar with the negotiations.

According to one of these people, Harvard is reluctant to pay the federal government directly, but negotiators are still discussing the exact financial terms. The sum requested by the government, which recently accused Harvard of civil rights violations, is more than double the $200 million fine Columbia University agreed to pay when it settled with the White House last week over anti-Semitic charges.

Neither Harvard nor the government have publicly specified the potential terms of a settlement or what charges the money would be intended to resolve. Donald Trump has privately demanded that Harvard pay significantly more than Columbia. Although the two sides have made progress toward a deal, Harvard is also skeptical that Columbia will accept an outside observer to oversee the agreement with the government. Harvard officials have warned that such a requirement for their agreement could represent a potential violation of the university's academic freedom. University officials, however, concluded months ago that, even if they win their legal battle against the government, a settlement could help Harvard avoid further problems during Trump's tenure. (ANSA). SAV