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This approach has enabled Harvard to build a formidable endowment—estimated at around $53 billion—making it one of the wealthiest educational institutions worldwide. However, this financial might comes with strings attached. Harvard deeply relies on federal research grants, especially in the hard sciences, which fund groundbreaking and often sensitive scientific endeavors vital to the national interest.
The concern expressed by critics is that while Harvard's scientific research may continue unimpeded, other facets of its operations—particularly those linked to its political ideology or controversial campus climate—could come under increased scrutiny if the university fails to align more closely with national security expectations and regulatory compliance.