Republicans in the US Congress have launched an investigation into Harvard University, accusing it of flouting civil rights law. The lawmakers are demanding documents on Harvard's hiring practices, diversity programs, and last year's pro-Palestinian campus protests. This comes after President Donald Trump sought unprecedented levels of control over the university, with the White House canceling $2.2 billion in funding and threatening further reprisals. Harvard has rejected the demands for oversight, stating that it will not negotiate over its independence or constitutional rights.