Harvard’s Funds Are Back. Can Its Scientists Trust the Government Again?

Over two decades, Harvard University has drawn world-class scientists with its collaborative ecosystem. For computational biologist John Quackenbush, the University was meant to be his last stop. Inside his office at the School of Public Health: stacks of science magazines, framed photos, and awards from universities — even the White House.

Then came the shock. In April of this year, the federal government froze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts going to Harvard.
The following month, an additional $450 million was cut.

Labs shut down, biospecimens died, researchers lost jobs, and trainees were left scrambling.

Harvard eventually sued, and by September the funds were being restored.

But the question remains: Can the university — and its faculty — trust the government again? The short answer: not entirely.

The Scale of the Damage

For long-time HIV researcher Shahin Lockman, whose lab has operated in Botswana for 26 years, eight federal grants — amounting to about $7.1 million per year — were terminated.

That meant 240 full-time staff lost contracts and dozens were permanently laid off. She calls it “the rug being pulled out from under everybody in one fell swoop.”

Junior and mid-career researchers were hit hardest. For example, assistant professor Sungwhan F. Oh held funding for a lab of about five researchers; two of his postdocs had to leave early because of financial instability.

These disruptions matter: university research doesn’t just stop when money halts. Quackenbush used a metaphor: “It’s like buying ingredients and preparing an elaborate dinner… If the power goes out for three months, whatever I made is rotted.”

Why Federal Funding Matters

In the 2024 fiscal year, federal research grants made up 11% of Harvard’s total operating revenue.
At its School of Public Health and Medical School, dependence on government funding is even greater. Many faculty salaries are tied to grants, not just university base pay.

Private philanthropy and corporate sponsorships exist — but they aren’t enough. Foundation awards are often short-term and smaller scale; industry funding may restrict publication or favour applied outcomes over basic science.

Where Trust and Stability Are Shaken

The funding freeze was initiated after the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began cancelling hundreds of grants mentioning terms like “race,” “transgender,” or “inequity”.
Though a federal judge later blocked the freeze, the damage was done.