France has publicly expressed support for Harvard University and other American universities amid increasing government oversight efforts in the United States. This stance comes in response to criticism and policy actions initiated by former President Donald Trump, who has targeted Harvard, including attempts to bar foreign students, which threatens the operational viability of the Kennedy School of Government. French officials, including Jean-Noël Barrot, have articulated this support as a defense against what they describe as governmental control over academic institutions. The situation has drawn international attention, highlighting tensions between academic freedom and government intervention. Meanwhile, in France, the National Assembly has taken a stance against further development of wind turbines, with debates ongoing about the constitutional and democratic implications of energy policy decisions. This domestic energy policy discourse runs concurrently with France's diplomatic support for American higher education institutions facing political pressures.

The Trump administration is intensifying its campaign to curb the flow of international students, floating a prohibition on foreign nationals entering the United States for study and preparing to revoke certain existing student visas. Officials have also signaled that visa rules could be wielded as leverage in broader trade negotiations, prompting warnings from policy analysts that the United States risks losing talent that has historically underpinned its innovation edge. Public colleges—especially those in states President Donald Trump carried—say they face a sharp financial hit if overseas enrollment falls. In Boston, where foreign students contribute significantly to tuition revenue and local spending, universities caution that a steady cash stream could dry up. Higher-education leaders add that the administration’s plans coincide with proposed endowment taxes and reductions in National Institutes of Health grants, compounding budget pressures. Harvard University has become a particular focus of federal scrutiny. The House Education and Workforce Committee, led by Chairman Rep. Tim Walberg, is investigating allegations of discriminatory hiring practices and the school’s response to antisemitism on campus. Separately, Rep. Elise Stefanik has asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to review whether Harvard adequately disclosed material information to investors ahead of recent bond sales. The inquiries come as the Ivy League institution confronts lawsuits and contract reviews that could affect its $53.8 billion endowment and even its tax-exempt status. Advocates for higher education warn that the combined effect of visa restrictions, fiscal measures and regulatory probes risks turning U.S. universities into a privilege reserved for elites while eroding America’s standing as a global academic hub.

A federal judge in Boston on 12 June ordered the release of Russian-born Harvard Medical School researcher Kseniia Petrova, concluding nearly four months of detention on federal smuggling charges. Petrova was arrested in February at Logan International Airport after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered undeclared frog embryo specimens in her luggage. Prosecutors allege she violated importation laws by failing to declare the biological material, which she said was intended for scientific research at Harvard. At Thursday’s detention hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Dein granted Petrova bail after prosecutors withdrew their request for continued custody. The bail terms were not disclosed. Petrova remains under indictment and is expected to return to court later this year as the smuggling case proceeds.

A congressional committee led by Chairman Representative Walberg, along with several members including Representatives Bob Onder and Elise Stefanik, has sent a letter to Harvard University's president requesting an investigation into alleged discriminatory hiring and employment practices at the institution. The inquiry focuses on potential violations of the Civil Rights Act, specifically concerning discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The committee's action follows reports that Harvard has failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus. The investigation aims to scrutinize claims that Harvard employs hiring quotas, which may be illegal under federal law.

Several libraries, including Harvard University and Boston's public library, are opening their collections to support the training of AI chatbots. Traditionally, AI models have been trained using internet data, but as artificial intelligence systems require more diverse and comprehensive sources, these institutions are providing access to their books and documents. This move aims to enrich AI learning with a broader repository of human knowledge beyond online content, addressing the growing demand from technology companies for high-quality data. The initiative reflects a shift towards integrating traditional library resources into the development of AI technologies.

Harvard University has made available nearly one million books, dating back to the 15th century and written in 254 languages, to AI researchers in collaboration with OpenAI and Microsoft. This extensive collection aims to enhance the training of AI chatbots by providing access to a vast repository of human knowledge beyond internet data. The initiative reflects a growing trend among technology companies to utilize traditional library resources to improve artificial intelligence systems. Meanwhile, advancements in AI are also being applied in agriculture, where researchers have developed CottonSim, a vision-guided robot equipped with AI to navigate cotton fields and detect ripe bolls for selective harvesting. Additionally, scientists have created a soft robotic gripper capable of gently injecting leaves with probes and genes, enabling precision agriculture techniques.

The U.S. House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into Harvard University over allegations of discriminatory hiring and employment practices that may violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The House Education and Workforce Committee sent a formal letter to Harvard President Alan Garber requesting information related to these claims. This inquiry follows reports that Harvard has engaged in racially discriminatory hiring and administrative actions. Additionally, the investigation comes amid broader federal scrutiny, including the revocation of billions in federal funding from Harvard over issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and campus anti-Semitism.

Harvard University has defended its decision to award an honorary degree to Elaine Kim, a professor emerita from UC Berkeley known for her support of boycotts against Israel, during its recent Commencement ceremony. While the university distanced itself from Kim's beliefs, it faced criticism for this decision amid broader controversies involving its stance on pro-Palestinian activism. Harvard has also withheld degrees from students who participated in a pro-Palestinian protest, a move the institution stands by without regret. The university appointed Shaul Magid, a pro-exile Jewish philosopher, as Professor of Modern Jewish Studies in Residence, framing this as part of its efforts to counter antisemitism on campus. Critics, including playwright David Mamet, have condemned Harvard's handling of these issues, accusing the institution of failing to uphold human dignity and refusing to consider apologies or reforms. The controversy has sparked a debate over Harvard's legacy and its approach to free speech and hate speech in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Wealthy U.S. universities including Harvard, Duke, and Stanford are facing financial pressures amid proposed tax increases on their endowments. These institutions have traditionally invested heavily in complex private equity and other illiquid assets, a strategy inspired by Yale's investment approach. The current federal funds crunch has led universities like Harvard and Yale to borrow through bonds and sell stakes in their portfolios to maintain liquidity. In response to the potential tax hike, these universities have proposed an alternative plan to Congress, pledging to increase spending from their own endowment funds to mitigate the impact. Experts from Baker Tilly suggest that affected institutions could use this moment to build public trust while managing their financial challenges. The situation has raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the U.S. university system. Separately, the National Taxpayers Union has called for improvements to the IRS Freedom of Information Act process to enhance transparency and public confidence.

The University of Texas System, historically wealthy from oil and natural gas revenues, is expanding its investment portfolio to include renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. This diversification strategy also encompasses the development of data centers designed to support cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence operations. With an endowment second only to Harvard's, the university system is leveraging its desert land assets to transition towards sustainable energy and advanced technology infrastructure amid a challenging environment for renewables.

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board and several commentators have criticized the Trump administration and Ohio Attorney General Mike Vance's recent policy banning foreign students from Harvard University and potentially other U.S. institutions. The editorial argues that bluntly restricting international students risks relocating jobs and innovation overseas, undermining the United States' leadership in technology and artificial intelligence. They emphasize the historical importance of foreign talent to American advancements over the past 250 years and caution that excluding these students could harm the country's tech workforce. The critique also highlights the need for improved education for U.S. students, particularly in K-12 and technical fields, while maintaining openness to international minds essential for innovation.

Harvard University has filed a legal challenge against the cancellation of a biological threat research grant, warning that cutting funding poses risks to national security and public health. The grant, supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), funds a virus hunting project that a Pentagon official described as critical to national security. Harvard's legal filings cite a DARPA official who reportedly pleaded with superiors to maintain funding to avoid compromising security. The controversy has drawn attention from prominent figures, including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who publicly opposed the funding cuts on Fox News, arguing that attacks on university research undermine scientific progress. The dispute highlights tensions over federal research funding decisions made during the Trump administration.