To explain dia rejection of Trump administration demands, Harvard president Alan Garber say di university no go surrender dia independence or relinquish dia constitutional rights under di First Amendment wey dey protect free speech.

Last month, di US Department of Education say dia office for civil rights dey investigate 45 universities sake of complaints say di schools engage wit one programme wey dey set eligibility based on race.

Harvard dey "fortunate" say e fit absorb some of dis cuts, according to di director of di Centre on US Politics at University College London, Thomas Gift, but e say dat no be di case for oda universities wey fit face similar freezes.

About 42% of higher education institutions for di US na public, dis mean say dem dey dey substantially supported by public funds and governed by public officials or appointees, according to education non-profit group Bellwether.