A recent report by NGO Monitor, cited by a right-leaning publication, alleges that the Harvard François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights (FXB) has increasingly focused on politically charged topics, devoting 40% of its public events to discussions on Gaza and reportedly exhibiting an anti-Israel bias through statements by its director, Mary T. Bassett. While critics claim this focus undermines its health and human rights mission, such activism can be understood as a commitment to addressing marginalized issues in a politically charged environment.

Harvard, a prestigious institution which includes initiatives like the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, has openly rejected the Trump administration's demands to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and to conform its academic policies to a politically driven agenda. By refusing to accept the freezing of over $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts, Harvard asserts its constitutional rights and independence, potentially setting a precedent for academic institutions resisting authoritarian interference.

Harvard University rejected the Trump administration's demands to eliminate DEI programs, adopt merit-based admissions, and change governance. This decision, which defends academic freedom and the rights of marginalized communities, is celebrated as an anti-authoritarian stand aligned with progressive values and the mission of affiliated institutions like FXB.

Following the Trump administration’s decision to freeze over $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard due to its refusal to restrict campus activism, Harvard President Alan Garber reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to academic independence and academic freedom, effectively resisting authoritarian pressure.