The White House orders embassies to suspend interviews with applicants to study in the United States.

BARCELONAThe White House has asked its embassies and consulates to temporarily suspend interviews with applicants to study in the United States and to stop granting appointment times for these interviews, according to a report published Tuesday. PoliticalThe newspaper claims that the move is in response to the Trump administration's intention to expand its scrutiny of the content posted on social media by all these aspiring students.

"From now on, in preparation for an expansion of mandatory monitoring and verification on social media, consular sections should not add any new appointments for student or exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J) until further guidelines are issued," the diplomatic cable says. Political, which could not be confirmed by this newspaper. The cable does not directly explain what the future social media controls would examine, but alludes to executive orders aimed at keeping potential terrorists out of the United States and combating antisemitism.

The move could harm many universities in the country, beyond Harvard, with which the Trump administration is still engaged in a bitter battle. This Tuesday, the White House ordered US federal agencies to cancel or review all active contracts they hold, a measure that could affect up to $100 million in funding. According to a report on Tuesday, The New York Times, which was the first media outlet to reveal the content of this directive, the Trump administration's latest action represents an escalation in the battle against the prestigious academic institution.

In April, the US government suspended $60 million in federal contracts and froze $2.2 billion in federal funds to the university after it refused to give in to the administration's demands to influence the academic curriculum. But the hardest blow came last week when an attempt was made to ban the university from enrolling foreign students, which would be a severe blow to its finances (they make up 25% of the student body and all in postgraduate courses, which are the most expensive). However, the decision is now in the hands of the courts.

According to official sources cited by CNN, the federal government believes Harvard has repeatedly ignored its demands for changes in governance, curriculum, and admissions policy, and accuses the university of discriminatory practices and a permissive attitude toward antisemitism. In this context, President Trump has decided to take action by ordering a comprehensive review of current federal contracts.

The General Services Agency (GSA), in charge of coordinating the process, sent a letter this week to various government agencies asking them to identify which contracts they have with Harvard and to assess whether they can be canceled or redirected to other entities. "We recommend that your agency terminate for convenience any contract that it considers has not met its standards," states the text signed by Josh Gruenbaum, a senior GSA official, who had previously sent a letter to Harvard last April with demands that the university rejected.

The volume of contracts under review amounts to around thirty, for a total value of $100 million. The decision does not imply an immediate withdrawal of funds, but it does open a process to determine whether the money is, in the administration's judgment, essential for the operation of federal services. A senior official has indicated on the BBC that the cuts will not affect Harvard-affiliated hospitals.

The blow follows other recent measures. Two weeks ago, the Trump administration revoked Harvard's ability to enroll international students or host foreign researchers, which caused confusion and uncertainty among thousands of affected students. Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit against the executive, alleging violations of his constitutional rights, specifically the First Amendment, and federal law. For now, Judge Allison D. Burroughs sided with Harvard and blocked the decision, pending the next court hearing this Thursday.

9 billion hangs in the balance.

The grievances outlined in the GSA letter also include the accusation that Harvard "continues to practice racial discrimination" in its admissions process, an issue that was the subject of a landmark Supreme Court ruling. Furthermore, the White House criticizes what it considers a "disturbing lack of concern for the safety and well-being of Jewish students."

The university has not issued any official statement, although according to CNN, it has consulted with its lawyers. In recent weeks, Harvard has become the White House's primary target in its offensive against academic institutions it considers "emblems of progressivism." woke".

The new episode is part of a broader context of tension between the executive branch and the American university world, in which the Trump administration seeks to redefine the rules of federal funding, conditioning them to ideological and normative criteria related to their agenda. He The New York Times The White House says the review is part of a process that could affect up to $9 billion in contracts and grants committed to Harvard in the coming years.

With these actions, the White House is not only seeking to pressure Harvard, but also to send a broader message to academic institutions that, in the administration's view, have detached themselves from traditional values and adopted a political agenda contrary to the country's interests.