University told by education secretary Linda McMahon research grants and other aid ‘will not be provided’

The US Department of Education informed Harvard University on Monday that it was ending billions of dollars in research grants and other aid unless the school accedes to a list of demands from the Trump administration that would effectively cede control of the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university to the government.

The news was delivered to Dr Alan Garber, Harvard’s president, in a deeply partisan letter from Linda McMahon, the education secretary, which she also posted on social media.

“This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek grants from the federal government, since none will be provided,” McMahon wrote.