US EditionHarvard board chair Penny Pritzker emerges as a target in Trump administration’s higher ed fight
- The Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard University in April 2025 amid demands tied to university governance and diversity policies.
- This action followed growing criticism from hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman, who blamed Harvard's board, led by Chair Penny Pritzker, for mismanagement and antisemitism issues on campus.
- In 2022, Pritzker, a Harvard graduate with experience as a Democratic Cabinet member and a net worth of $4 billion, assumed leadership of Harvard’s governing board and has since faced ongoing demands to step down amid heightened criticism.
- Harvard President Alan Garber rejected the administration’s demands in a public statement defending academic independence, while Pritzker acknowledged criticism but opposed increased government oversight.
- The federal funding freeze and legal battle reflect escalating tensions between the government and Harvard, raising questions about university autonomy and federal role in higher education funding.
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Bill Ackman demands Harvard fire ex-Obama official Penny Pritzker from governing board: ‘Time for a change in leadership’
Bill Ackman is again taking aim at Harvard University -- this time demanding the removal of a former Obama official from the school's leadership.
·New York, United States
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Pershing’s Ackman urges board overhaul at alma mater Harvard
As founder of hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, Bill Ackman is no stranger to activist campaigns at his firm’s portfolio companies. And now the 58-year-old seems to be bringing that expertise to bear on his alma mater, Harvard, according to a report by Bloomberg. Ackman has called for the removal of Harvard Corporation Chair Penny Pritzker and warning of broader implications for institutional governance and financial stewardship in …
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