Harvard University and the Trump administration exchanged private letters that escalated a marquee dispute over federal oversight and ideological scrutiny of elite campuses. The correspondence signals intensified federal scrutiny of university practices and is the latest move in a broader campaign by the administration to challenge institutions it deems too liberal. Harvard officials and federal policymakers are now in a more confrontational posture, increasing the likelihood of regulatory probes, public demands for documents, or litigation that could set precedents for other research‑intensive universities.