2 months ago
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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Harvard University has initiated legal action against the Trump administration after a $2.2 billion grant freeze following the university’s refusal to adhere to certain conditions set by the White House.
👥 Who’s Involved: Participants include Harvard University, represented by its president, Alan M. Garber, and the Trump administration.
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📍 Where & When: Cambridge, Massachusetts, with developments since last week’s White House announcement.
💬 Key Quote: “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” said Alan M. Garber, Harvard’s president.
⚠️ Impact: The freeze could significantly affect research, according to Harvard.
IN FULL:
Harvard University has filed a lawsuit in response to the Trump administration’s decision to suspend $2.2 billion in grants following the university’s rejection of White House demands. The Ivy League institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, accuses the administration of overreaching, challenging its independence, and attempting to influence academic decisions by requiring it to screen foreign students for extremist views.
The conflict arose after Harvard opted not to implement measures required by the administration, which included vetting foreign students for anti-Semitism and hostility toward American values, and shutting down diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. These conditions were closely linked to allegations of ideological bias and the university’s purported failure to safeguard Jewish students on campus. In response, President Alan M. Garber argued that the demands interfere with academic freedom and decision-making.
The situation escalated when the White House announced the freeze, suggesting that Harvard was not meeting the necessary conditions for receiving taxpayer money. “Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege,” remarked Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman.
Garber claims that the funding halt could jeopardize research initiatives, including studies on serious diseases like pediatric cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. He argued in court documents that the administration has not established any meaningful link between anti-Semitism concerns and the research projects put on hold—failing to take responsibility for the funding freeze by refusing the administration’s conditions.
The lawsuit comes amid a broader review by the administration into universities’ handling of anti-Semitism and other forms of extremism, with at least 60 institutions under scrutiny.
PULSE POINTS:
❓ What Happened: Col. Ricky Buria, a former aide to Biden-era Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, has resigned from the Marine Corps and is reportedly transitioning into a senior civilian role under Trump-world Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with consideration for the coveted chief of staff position. Buria, a recent Democrat donor, is the source of major concerns in Trump world.
👤 Who Was Involved: Ricky Buria, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, outgoing Chief of Staff Joe Kasper, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Democratic congressional candidate Mike O’Brien, and former DoD official Anne Powers.
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🧾 Key Quote: “Ricky was only the [Senior Military Assistant] because he was the only guy standing,” a defense official told Defense News.
⚠️ Fallout: Officials inside the Department of Defense and the White House have raised concerns about Buria’s close ties to the previous administration.
📌 Significance: The personnel move highlights unresolved tensions surrounding staffing and loyalty inside the Pentagon’s top ranks.
IN FULL:
Col. Ricky Buria, a former junior military assistant (JMA) to Lloyd Austin, is reportedly in line for a senior civilian advisory position under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to multiple defense officials. Buria began terminal leave from the Marine Corps last week and is even under consideration for the role of chief of staff following the departure of Joe Kasper, according to numerous sources familiar with the matter.
But Buria was first appointed to the Pentagon in April 2024 under the Biden government. After Hegseth’s confirmation, Buria remained in place–a “holdover”–while other senior staff were dismissed. He temporarily filled the position of acting senior military assistant (SMA).
“Ricky was only the SMA because he was the only guy standing,” an official told Defense News.
In recent months, Buria has accompanied Hegseth on official travel and participated in high-level meetings. On a recent trip to Panama, Buria was present for discussions with the Panamanian government regarding canal access. He also joined a bilateral meeting in Washington with El Salvador’s Minister of Defense, seated two chairs away from the secretary.
Buria, far left, with Hegseth in Panama.Multiple officials say Buria has taken on expanded responsibilities beyond those typical of a junior military assistant, including personnel input and attendance at foreign policy briefings.
Additionally, campaign finance data uncovered by The National Pulse shows that Buria made a donation in 2023 via ActBlue to Democrat Mike O’Brien, a former Marine and candidate in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. O’Brien was endorsed by VoteVets–a left-wing group that claims President Trump “hates veterans,” and has attempted to destabilize his Department of Defense using the now-infamous “Signal group chat” story as a cudgel. The group even publicly called for Hegseth to be fired.
Buria has maintained relationships with former Biden-era Pentagon staffers. In a LinkedIn comment, former Department of Defense official Anne Powers publicly referred to Buria as her “partner in crime,” while he heaped praise on others and vice versa.
Buria’s messages to Biden-era staffers on LinkedIn.The White House personnel office is reviewing Buria’s transition to civilian service. Approval is required for senior advisory appointments.
Buria was promoted to colonel in fall 2024. Under standard requirements, officers must serve two years at a given rank to retire at that grade. Without a waiver, he is expected to retire as a lieutenant colonel.
Four top officials have departed Hegseth’s team in recent days. The staffing turnover has left a gap in senior leadership, which Buria is currently helping fill, much to the chagrin of many across the Trump administration.
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