The Trump administration has launched a sweeping review of Harvard University’s federally funded research programs, warning that it could seize or relicense the school’s extensive portfolio of patents. The move marks the latest escalation in a months-long confrontation between the White House and one of the nation’s most prominent universities.
In a letter posted online Friday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Harvard of breaching “legal and contractual requirements” tied to federally funded research and intellectual property. He said the department had initiated a “march-in” process under the Bayh-Dole Act, a rarely used provision that allows the federal government to take control of patents or issue licenses to other parties.
“The Department places immense value on the groundbreaking scientific and technological advancements that emerge from the Government’s partnerships with institutions like Harvard,” Lutnick wrote. “That value comes with a critical responsibility for Harvard to ensure that its intellectual property derived from federal funding is used to maximize benefits to the American people.”
The letter demands that Harvard, within four weeks, provide a full accounting of patents developed through federally funded research, details on their use, and whether any licensing agreements require substantial U.S. manufacturing. As of July 1, 2024, Harvard held more than 5,800 patents and maintained more than 900 technology licenses with over 650 industry partners, according to its Office of Technology Development.
The dispute over patents comes amid broader tensions between Harvard and the Trump administration. In April, Harvard sued after the White House began freezing or stripping billions of dollars in federal research funding, following accusations that the university failed to address antisemitism on campus in response to student protests against Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Harvard officials have denied reports that the university is considering a $500 million settlement, calling the claim—first published by The New York Times—inaccurate and attributing the leak to White House officials.
Other institutions under similar pressure have reached costly settlements with the government, including Columbia University, which agreed to pay more than $220 million, and Brown University, which paid $50 million.
Critics say the administration’s use of the Bayh-Dole Act and other measures against select universities is part of a political strategy to exert federal control over higher education under the guise of enforcing civil rights laws. Faculty groups and civil rights experts warn that such actions threaten academic freedom, chill campus speech, and undermine the independence of U.S. research institutions.
