Harvard Medical School contributed to a study published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment that quantified thousands of annual US deaths from climate-fueled wildfire smoke. The research helps inform the public and policymakers about the escalating health risks associated with climate change.

The article details that over 99% of political donations made by Harvard leadership since 2015 have been directed to Democratic candidates and liberal organizations. This political alignment, along with a public defiance of the Trump administration’s funding conditions and threats to tax-exempt status, underscores the institution’s commitment to progressive, anti-authoritarian values.

Harvard University, in a stand for academic freedom and institutional independence, refused to comply with the Trump administration’s conditions tied to billions in federal funding. The decision, communicated by President Alan Garber, was framed as essential to avoid the university becoming a government vassal, and it sets the stage for a protracted legal battle.

Harvard rejected the Trump administration's demands for audits and governance changes in exchange for federal funding, leading to a freeze of $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts. The institution defended its academic independence and constitutional rights, marking a stance against authoritarian overreach.

Harvard Medical School, under President Alan Garber, rejected demands from the Trump administration that threatened to freeze billions in research funding and impose intrusive governance measures. The institution asserted its independence and constitutional rights, emphasizing that academic freedom and the autonomy of educational programs must be maintained.

Non-tenured academic workers, including those at Harvard Medical School, have unionized under the United Auto Workers (UAW) to improve wages, job security, and working conditions. This move represents a significant step toward better labor rights and worker empowerment within the institution.

In early April, non-tenure-track faculty at Harvard Medical School participated in a union election as part of a broader academic workers unionization effort at Harvard. The vote, which was overwhelmingly in favor of union representation, marks a significant step towards improved worker rights and better employment protections.

Over 3,000 Harvard faculty, including members from Harvard Medical School, filed for union recognition with the NLRB to advocate for better labor rights, fair compensation, and job security. The filing, led by HAW-UAW, underscores longstanding tensions over temporary contracts and precarious employment conditions.

Analysis of donation records from the 2024 cycle indicates that over 97% of the high-dollar contributions by Harvard employees have gone to Democratic candidates. This pattern reinforces the institution’s progressive orientation, aligning with anti-authoritarian values amid current political debates.

Non-tenure-track faculty at Harvard Medical School participated in rallies demanding union recognition, higher wages, better job security, and improved working conditions, highlighting systemic labor inequities within academia.