Top Republicans are calling for withholding billions in federal funding from universities that support anti-Semitism to root out the rot in American higher education.
The backlash erupted after the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT failed to unequivocally condemn the genocide of Jews during a hearing on anti-Semitism on Capitol Hill last week.
Now Republicans are calling for withholding all federal funding from Harvard and other liberal universities that support anti-Semitism.
Harvard has received more than $3 billion in taxpayer money between 2018 and 2022 and also benefits from tax breaks on its massive endowments. Between those same years, Harvard's endowment totaled more than $50 billion, with $2 billion receiving special tax treatment, according to an OpenTheBooks analysis.
“We must EXPLORE the rot in American higher education,” Republican Party Chairwoman Elise Stefanik told DailyMail.com in a statement Thursday.
She promises to “cut off” schools that encourage anti-Semitism from federal funds.
Harvard President Claudine Gay is still in power, despite criticism of her testimony last week
Stefanik put the liberal university presidents first and asked them whether “calling for genocide of Jews” would violate their schools' codes of conduct
The Republican top called it 'unacceptable and unAmerican' that taxpayer money goes to universities whose students and employees have 'openly called for the genocide of the Jews.'
Last week, Stefanik put liberal college presidents front and center by asking them whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” would violate their schools' codes of conduct.
She asked Harvard President Claudine Gay directly whether “calling for the genocide of Jews violates Harvard's rules on bullying and harassment? Yes or no.'
“It may depend on the context,” Gay replied. She has since received numerous calls to resign after failing to directly condemn anti-Semitism.
UPenn President Liz Magil and MIT President Sally Kornbluth gave similar non-responses to Stefanik during the hearing.
“If the speech turns into behavior, it could be harassment, yes,” UPenn President Liz Magill told Stefanik last week.
Pressed further, she said, “It's a context-dependent decision, Congressman.”
UPenn's Liz Magill was forced to resign after the backlash, but Harvard continued to support President Claudine Gay.
The Harvard Corporation, which governs the university, announced it wanted to retain its presidency — despite her Dec. 5 testimony before Congress.
And Gay has been told that university leadership still supports her despite calls for her resignation.
Gay apologized for her comments as the backlash intensified, telling the university newspaper The Crimson that she “got caught up in what had become at that point: an extended, combative exchange over policies and procedures.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has called for her to resign, saying taxpayer money going to Harvard and other universities should be reexamined.
“President Gay's testimony was deplorable and she should resign,” Scalise told DailyMail.com.
“It is clear that we need a full investigation into whether universities receiving taxpayer dollars are enabling a culture of anti-Semitism and discrimination on campus, and I am pleased that the Education and Workforce Committee is initiating that investigation.”
On Wednesday evening, the House of Representatives voted on a resolution to condemn anti-Semitism on college campuses and the presidents' testimonies last week.
The vote passed 303 to 126, with 125 Democrats voting along with just one Republican – Rep. Thomas Massie, Ky. – 'no'.
Stefanik and Scalise are leading the measure along with Democrats Jared Moskowitz and Josh Gottheimer.
Earlier this week, Stefanik's team fired back at the “terrible” skit from NBC's Saturday Night Live with images of the presidents' testimonies.
Stefanik and Scalise are leading the measure along with Democrats Jared Moskowitz and Josh Gottheimer
A top adviser to the Republican leadership told DailyMail.com that although Stefanik has not seen the skit, her office has been “inundated” with messages from Republicans and Democrats who were “shocked and disgusted by the anti-Semitic garbage spewed by unfunny, moral bankrupt comedians.
“SNL made history with its worst cold snap ever because everyone knows there is absolutely no humor in the university presidents' vile responses about their failure to condemn calls for genocide against the Jewish people,” said senior advisor Alex DeGrasse.