If you didn’t have time to pack lunch before work, you might find yourself grabbing a meal deal from the shop when midday rolls around.

And while the likes of Tesco and Sainsbury’s offer a main, snack and drink for £4 or less, a new study has claimed that another supermarket is actually offering UK shoppers the ‘best value’ for money.

The team at NetVoucherCodes compared the most expensive meal deal items available at seven top shops – including Boots, Poundland and Morrisons – and an unexpected retailer was found to offer the biggest savings.

It was Waitrose that actually came out on top as part of the analysis – despite selling the most expensive meal deal of the bunch.

While Waitrose’s meal deal might cost £5, you can actually save up to £5.30 on your lunch if you buy the most expensive items included in the offer. 

The example given featured a GLO Pulled Beef & Onion Salad (£4.80), Taiko Mini Nigiri (£2.50) and Jimmy’s Iced Coffee (£3).

If you purchased these items outside of the meal deal, it would cost you £10.30, meaning you’re saving £5.30 by using the deal. 

Comparatively, Poundland was found to be the cheapest meal deal overall at £3, but it offered the smallest saving on the most expensive items included. 

If you were to buy a premium wrap or sandwich from the store, as well as Woodys Skewers and a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato or Red Bull, it would cost you £5. So with the deal, that’s a saving of £2. 

Elsewhere, Tesco ranked in second place when it came to savings, with the meal deal costing £4 and the most expensive meal deal combo giving shoppers a saving of £5.15. 

Boots was third, Co-op was fourth, followed closely by Sainsbury’s and Morrisons in fifth and sixth place respectively. 

NetVoucherCodes adds that for the study, only the classic meal deal price at each store was considered, without any other promotions such as loyalty card prices or premium meal deal offerings.

This comes after Tesco recently made a big change to its meal deal, adding the ‘food of the gods’ to the line-up.

Pot Noodles are now available to grab as a snack option, but there is a bit of a catch – it’s only available in selected stores across the UK and it’s only one specific flavour you can get.

Customers can add the Chicken & Mushroom Pot Noodle (90g) as a side option in 50 Tesco stores nationwide.

Locations where this is available includes Barnsley, Prescot, Hanley, Swansea, Hastings, Wrexham, Peterborough, Bristol and Swindon.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Listen to article

Everyone’s financial situation is different, meaning everyone’s saving goals will be different.

While some might send regular instalments into an ISA each month, others may be a bit more ad-hoc, depending on what they can afford.

If saving a little bit more of your paycheck is your goal, but you’re unsure of the best way to start, then the 50/30/20 rule is for you.

This is a tried, tested and proven technique that allows you to start regularly saving each month.

Here’s a closer look at how it works…

What is the 50/30/20 rule?

The 50/30/20 rule helps keep spending on non-essentials within an allocated budget each month.

Essentially, the rule involves dividing your spending into three categories: needs, wants and savings.

Then, with each paycheck, allocate 50% to needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings or debt repayments.

For example, if your monthly income is £1,500 after tax, you might spend approximately £750 on needs, £450 on wants and £300 on savings or debt repayment.

Separating your money into pots like this is a failsafe budgeting technique.

Ed Fleming is the managing director at Savoo, a voucher code provider that donates to charity with every voucher used. He says: ‘When a lump sum comes into your account, it is easy to get carried away.

‘Putting it straight into different money pots or waiting until the month’s rent and bills have been subtracted makes it much easier to see exactly how much you have to play with.

‘Then, around halfway into the month, it’s easier to see how much you have for the remaining weeks to enjoy things like meals out, trips and hobbies.

‘You can then use tools like discount code sites, comparison sites, and clearance offers to reduce and help your money go much further.’

What if the 50/30/20 method doesn’t work for me?

Finances are very personal, so budgeting rules will never be a one-size-fits-all method.

For some, 50% of their paycheck may not be enough to cover all essential costs, while 30% may be more than they tend to spend on unessential things like gyms and subscriptions.

If this is the case, try splitting your money in a way that suits your specific costs. Maybe that’s more like 60/20/20 or 70/20/10.

Either way, it’s a good way to ensure you don’t spend too much on things you don’t really need, especially if you’re trying to save.

Conservative author, media figure and former Treasury official Monica Crowley was confirmed late Monday to become assistant secretary of state and chief of protocol with the rank of ambassador.

Crowley, who was a longtime former Fox News contributor and foreign affairs analyst, previously served in the first Trump administration and received the Alexander Hamilton Award from the Treasury Department during that time.

“Monica will be the administration representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028,” President Donald Trump said in a December statement announcing her nomination.

Crowley holds a doctorate in international relations from Columbia University.

DNC VICE CHAIR SLAMS TRUMP AS PUNK, WOULD-BE DICTATOR IN FIERY PA TOWN HALL

The Arizona native grew up in New Jersey and began her career in former President Richard Nixon’s post-presidency, when she worked as a research assistant.

Her book, “Nixon Off the Record,” was published in the wake of that role.

She joined Fox News Channel in 1996 – the same year it hit the airwaves – and often appeared with host Sean Hannity on “Hannity” and its predecessor “Hannity & Colmes,” with the late Alan Colmes.

WHO IS THE DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING AT ICE DETENTION CENTER?

She also starred in one episode of “House of Cards,” where she played herself – and also hosted the syndicated “Monica Crowley Show.”

She has received several other awards, including Woman of the Year in 2010 from the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women.

During Trump’s first term, she backed out of a National Security Council role when allegations of plagiarism in her doctoral dissertation surfaced. Crowley rejected the claims as a “hit job.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The U.S. Travel Association lauded her nomination, saying that she will serve a “pivotal role” in the Trump administration.

“The speed with which this decision was made gives us great confidence that … Trump will seek to maximize the opportunities of the decade of sports and events that lies ahead,” said CEO Geoff Freeman.

“Landmark moments [she will be involved in planning] will attract millions of travelers to America and showcase the best of our great nation while creating a lasting benefit to our economy.” 

A retired police officer in the United Kingdom is reportedly taking legal action after he was arrested over a social media post warning about the rising threat of antisemitism in the UK following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks against Israel.

Julian Foulkes, a 71-year-old retired special constable from Kent, England, was arrested in November 2023 and had his home searched after one of his posts on X was reported to law enforcement, according to the Daily Mail. 

Foulkes reportedly grew concerned as anti-Israel protests swept across London and other major European cities in the weeks following the October 7 attacks. In a post on X that month, he warned about escalating antisemitism after rioters stormed a Russian airport searching for arrivals from Tel Aviv.

“One step away from storming Heathrow looking for Jewish arrivals…” he posted in a reply to a pro-Palestinian activist’s post.

AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER RELEASED BY HAMAS AFTER MORE THAN 580 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY

Foulkes told the Mail that he was “shocked and flabbergasted” after Kent Police officers arrived at his door later to search his home. 

According to bodycam footage reviewed by The Telegraph, an officer raised concerns about the books he was reading, including those by British author and commentator Douglas Murray, commenting that his bookshelf contained “very Brexit-y things.”

Police also reportedly raised concerns about a shopping list from his wife, a hairdresser, which included items like bleach, tin foil and gloves.

Police seized his electronic devices and detained Foulkes for eight hours before issuing him a caution — a formal warning given to a person who admits to an offense to avoid prosecution.

UK MAN WARNS ABOUT STATE PROSECUTING ‘THOUGHT CRIMES’ AFTER CHARGED FOR SILENT PRAYER: ‘HORRIFIC IMPLICATIONS’

Foulkes said he accepted the caution out of fear that he would be kept from visiting his only surviving daughter, who lives in Australia.

He compared the ordeal to being targeted for a “thought crime.”

“This is absolutely an Orwellian-style thought crime. It’s absolutely ridiculous because I sent a tweet which was reasonable in the circumstances and it was a tweet based on events I’d read about just the previous day and in the previous week,” he told the Mail.

“It was taken out of context and I really can’t go through all the failings of Kent police – as much as I’d like to – but it’s been quite astonishing to me especially as I served with them for 10 years,” he added.

The Kent Police issued an apology to Foulkes on Monday, saying they had made a mistake and that his record had been cleared.

FORMER MUMFORD AND SONS MUSICIAN ASKS WHITE HOUSE IF BRITS PUNISHED OVER FREE SPEECH CAN SEEK ASYLUM IN US

“On 2 November 2023 a report was made to Kent Police about a social media post that was alleged to have been offensive, and Mr Foulkes was arrested on the same day,” the statement shared with Fox News Digital read. 

“Although he was offered and accepted an unconditional caution following his own independent legal advice, a subsequent review of the case by the force concluded that the caution was not appropriate in the circumstances and should not have been issued.”

“Kent Police apologizes to Mr Foulkes for the distress caused and how the report was investigated. We have expunged the caution from his record and are pleased to facilitate this correction. Mr Foulkes has been informed of the decision and a further review of the matter will now be carried out to identify any learning opportunities,” the statement continued.

JD VANCE SPARS WITH BRITISH PRIME MINISTER OVER FREE SPEECH CENSORSHIP DURING OVAL OFFICE MEETING

Foulkes says he has sought legal help and plans to sue the police force for wrongful arrest.

The Free Speech Union is raising money to cover the costs of his legal fight.

Concerns about free speech being under threat in the UK have drawn the attention of U.S. leaders like Vice President JD Vance.

In a speech to European leaders in February, Vance warned that Europe appeared to be retreating from some of its fundamental values it shares with the U.S. and adopting “Soviet-era” censorship.

British commentator and former Mumford and Sons guitarist Winston Marshall recently appeared at a White House briefing to ask the Trump administration if they would consider giving political asylum to Brits who faced prosecution for posting “hate speech” online.

The stars were out at Citi Field on Monday as the best young pitcher in the game took the bump.

Paul Skenes started on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the first-place New York Mets. And yes, girlfriend Livvy Dunne, who grew up less than 30 miles from the Mets’ ballpark, was in attendance.

Dunne’s gymnastics career just ended, so she’s finally getting a chance to see Skenes’ sophomore season.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Dunne has also been a Sports Illustrated model in each of the last two years, and she decided to bring along some friends.

Camille Kostek (Rob Gronkowski’s girlfriend), Ellie Thumann and Xandra Pohl each threw out the first pitch on Monday to Mark Vientos, Tyrone Taylor and Huascar Brazoban, doing their best impression of Skenes himself.

The models even took a selfie ahead of time. Dunne was gifted a Mets jersey from the team, which she wore, despite her boyfriend pitching against them.

Skenes finished in third place in the National League Cy Young Award vote last year and was named the NL Rookie of the Year. He became the first rookie to start an All-Star Game since Hideo Nomo in 1995. He pitched to a 1.96 ERA and struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings.

NFL MVP UPSET WITH YANKEES’ NEW RADIO ANNOUNCER TAKING SERIES OFF: ‘YOU JUST DON’T DO THAT’

Skenes has not been as sharp as last year in his sophomore season, although his 2.77 ERA entering Monday is hardly anything to complain about.

Monday marks Skenes’ first start since manager Derek Shelton was fired after Pittsburgh started 12-26. It was a move Skenes admitted he was not surprised by.

“We’re 12-26. Someone’s gotta be held accountable,” he told reporters Friday. “Unfortunately, right now, it’s him.”

But Skenes said a managerial change won’t do much because it’s ultimately up to the players.

“Just how it goes. I don’t know if it fixes the root of the issue. We just need to play better,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Mets are tied for the second-best record in the sport at 26-15, tied with the Detroit Tigers and trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat the Mets in the National League Championship Series last season.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Life wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows when Nicole Eggert joined “Baywatch” as Roberta “Summer” Quinn in 1992. 

On the most recent episode of the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast, Eggert opened up about her experience on the hit show. 

Eggert joined “Baywatch” for season 3, but she was originally meant to appear in a spin-off of the show that had a “‘90210’-esque feel at the beach.

The spin-off was meant to be “a high school at the beach training to be lifeguards,” but “Baywatch” became so popular, the second series was never created, Eggert revealed.

‘BAYWATCH’ ACTRESS NICOLE EGGERT DISCLOSES ‘ROUGH’ CANCER DIAGNOSIS: ‘WHO’S GOING TO COVER THE BILLS’

“And they were like, ‘Spin-off nothing. This is what’s working, and we want it to stay like this,'” she said.

Eggert “politely bowed out” of “Baywatch” after two seasons because it wasn’t what she signed up for.

“I had some crazy idea in my head that if I left the show, I would be able to detach myself from the stigma that the show had given all of us as actors, which is not a thing,” Eggert said.

The “Baywatch” stigma translated into her dating life, too.

“People have an idea of who you are, and that could be a number of things. And I think it’s harder for people to get to know you without this preconceived notion that they have going in,” Eggert said. 

Nicole said she’s “not like anyone” she’s played onscreen, which has thrown people off in her dating life.

Steve Kmetko, the host of the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast, asked Eggert what it was like being on the biggest television show in the world.

“Weird,” Eggert simply admitted. “We were being ripped apart in the press.” Due to the negative press, “the casting doors were not opening anymore,” according to the actress.

“And then all of a sudden it was like we were called ‘Baywatch bimbos’ and these dumb bimbos on the beach, and it’s T&A.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

“And then on the other hand, you have this No. 1 hit on your hand, and it’s like what a kerfuffle. What a mess,” Eggert admitted.

After Eggert stepped away from the hit series, she returned to the “Baywatch” universe in 2003 for “Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.”

Eggert told People magazine in 2024 that she didn’t know what she was signing up for when agreeing to join the “Baywatch” world.

“Oh my God, we’re going to be in a bathing suit all day every day?” she remembered thinking on day 1.

“All the girls worked out and were super tiny and fit, and I was like, ‘Whoops.’ And the one-piece bathing suits were not flattering. I didn’t want to wear it at all,” she said of the iconic red swimsuit. “It just wasn’t what I signed up for. It was a totally different show and ballgame and not where I wanted to be.”

While on break from shooting “Baywatch,” Eggert, then 18, decided to go under the knife. “I regret it now, of course,” she explained of getting breast implants. 

“I look at all these younger girls doing it and think, ‘God, leave your bodies alone!’ But when you have to put on that one-piece, and it’s like you’re so flat that it’s like pleating, you got pleats across the front … you’re like, ‘What is this?’ Nothing you can do. You can’t stuff it with anything. You can’t do anything.”

With time, Eggert started to question why she’d really gone through with the procedure. “It was a stupid 18-year-old decision,” she admitted to People.

Since getting the initial implants, Eggert has had several breast augmentation surgeries. In 2015, she appeared on an episode of “Botched,” wanting a breast reduction.

In January 2024, the actress announced she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

Eggert first felt pain in her breast and gained 25 pounds within three months. Believing them to be symptoms of menopause, she was surprised to locate a lump during a self-exam in October 2023. 

“It really was throbbing and hurting,” she previously told People. “I immediately went to my general practitioner, and she told me I had to immediately go get it looked at. But the problem was, I just couldn’t get an appointment. Everything was booked. So I had to wait until the end of November to get it done.”

Results later showed that she had stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer. Both of Eggert’s parents had cancer. 

When NFL division races get hot and heavy late in the 2025 season, you will be able to catch plenty of the action on a Saturday on FOX.

The network announced on Monday that it would broadcast a Saturday doubleheader on Week 16 – Dec. 20 – with four NFC teams duking it out.

One game will feature a rematch of this past season’s NFC championship game as the Philadelphia Eagles, who open their season on FOX against the Dallas Cowboys, will battle the Washington Commanders in Landover, Maryland.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The other game will have the Chicago Bears hosting their longtime NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers.

A one-hour gameshow will precede the doubleheader, the 11th by the network – a record. It’s also the 31st window of games this season for FOX, the most in the league.

The Birds are coming off their second Lombardi Trophy in seven years in February when they stopped the Kansas City Chiefs from the first-ever three-peat in the Super Bowl. The Eagles defeated the Commanders, 55-23, en route to the big game in the NFC championship. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley each had three rushing touchdowns in the game.

UNSUSPECTING MOTHER FLATTERED BY ‘NICEST YOUNG MAN’ TRAVIS HUNTER ON FLIGHT: ‘I WANT HIS JERSEY’

Both the Eagles and Commanders and the Packers and Bears split their regular-season series last year. The home team won both NFC East matchups, while the road team was victorious in the North battles.

The Packers’ loss to the Bears last year came in Week 18, when it became apparent that the Packers were trying to play for seeding late in the game. But they lost, and then dropped their playoff game to the Eagles, which had been a rematch of the Week 1 contest in Brazil.

The season kicks off on Sept. 4.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Since high school, it’s long been assumed that Cooper Flagg would be the top selection of this year’s NBA Draft. Now he knows where he (likely) will be heading.

The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Draft lottery on Monday, meaning they currently own the first overall selection.

Dallas had an 8.5% chance to pick top-four and a 1.8% to win the lottery.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Mavs’ season turned into turmoil when they traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, prompting fan hatred to general manager Nico Harrison, who needed heightened security throughout the rest of the season.

But all of a sudden, all seems OK in Dallas.

The Utah Jazz, with an NBA-worst 17-65 record, had the best odds at the top pick, but they dropped all the way to No. 5. Utah has never selected No. 1 nor have they ever improved their draft standing. Since the NBA changed its lottery system in 2019, the team with the best odds has never selected first.

MICHAEL JORDAN TO JOIN NBC AS ‘SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR’ FOR NBA COVERAGE

Flagg heightened his own expectations by declaring for Duke in high school, and then he lived up to the billing.

Flagg led Duke this season in almost every statistical category, including points (709), rebounds (278), assists (155), steals (52) and blocks per game (1.4). He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game, but his best showing was in January when he set an ACC freshman record with a 42-point performance against Notre Dame. 

Flagg closed out a phenomenal year with a semifinal appearance in the NCAA men’s tournament and was named the winner of the 2025 Naismith Player of the Year Award, becoming just the fourth freshman to be named its recipient, along with Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson.

His Blue Devils lost a late lead against Houston, who returned the favor to Florida in the national championship.

The NBA Draft takes place on June 25, which is when Flagg will know for sure where he’ll be heading.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom released details about his multibillion-dollar plan to tackle the homeless crisis in the Golden State and is pushing cities and counties to take “immediate action.” 

On Monday, Newsom shared a model ordinance for cities and counties to “immediately address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services.”

“There’s nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,” Newsom said in a news release.

DEM CITY USES ‘BAIT-AND-SWITCH’ TACTIC TO APPROVE HOMELESS SHELTER, LOCALS ERUPT

The ordinance is backed in part by $3.3 billion in new Prop 1 funding, Newsom’s office announced, adding that the governor is “calling on all local governments to act without delay.” 

Newsom is also encouraging local leaders to use their authority, affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, to address encampments.

“The Governor is calling on every local government to adopt and implement local policies without delay,” Newsom’s office said.

Newsom’s office said this model ordinance draws from the state’s “proven and workable approach,” an approach that between July 2021 and May 2025 cleared more than 16,000 encampments and more than 311,873 cubic yards of debris from sites along the state right-of-way.

“These results demonstrate that the policy is both effective and scalable, offering a sound, adoptable framework for jurisdictions to resolve encampments with urgency and dignity,” Newsom said. 

PROGRESSIVE JOURNALIST SAYS NEWSOM MUST TAKE ‘ACCOUNTABILITY’ FOR HOW HE ‘DESTROYED’ CALIFORNIA

Monday’s announcement is in addition to the release of $3.3 billion in voter-approved Proposition 1 funding, which Newsom’s office said will be made available later today to communities statewide.

Those funds are being used to expand behavioral health housing and treatment options for the “most seriously ill and homeless in California.”

“This model ordinance is not intended to be comprehensive or to impose a one-size-fits-all approach for every city. Tailoring is expected and appropriate to account for local differences and priorities,” Newsom’s office said. 

The guidance doesn’t say whether criminal penalties should be enforced but instead would leave it up to cities to enforce how severely those who violate the ban should be punished.

Newsom’s office said all local approaches should reflect three basic principles, which include:

Newsom’s announcement comes following the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson in 2024, which found laws restricting sleeping in public areas did not violate the constitutional restriction against “cruel and unusual punishment.”

DEM MAYOR FED UP WITH HOMELESS CRISIS PROPOSES JAILING VAGRANTS WHO REFUSE HOUSING

Newsom had encouraged the Supreme Court to take up the case, claiming court decisions preventing the government from punishing vagrants occupying public spaces had created an “unsurmountable roadblock” to addressing the crisis.

Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital that the governor has “actively held communities accountable who do not follow state law to address homelessness”, sharing an example of when the state sued the City of Norwalk in 2024 for “its unlawful ban on homeless shelters.”

The governor’s office added that while the nation’s unsheltered homelessness last year went up by nearly 7%, California’s increase was only 0.45% and was lower than 44 other states.

“Governor Newsom is the first governor to actively address this issue in our state, and he is reversing a crisis that was decades in the making,” Newsom’s office said. 

In addition to cleaning up homeless encampments, Newsom’s office also announced $3.3 billion in grant funding to create over 5,000 residential treatment beds and more than 21,800 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral healthcare services.

“Californians demanded swift action to address our state’s behavioral health crisis when they voted for Prop 1 in March 2024,” Newsom’s office said.

“Today, we’re delivering our biggest win yet. These launch-ready projects will build and expand residential beds and treatment slots for those who need help. Whether it’s crisis stabilization, inpatient services, or long-term treatment, we’re ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time,” the statement continued.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

When fully awarded, Newsom’s office said funding from Proposition 1 bonds is estimated to create 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health and will build on other major behavioral health initiatives in California.

“Today marks a critical milestone in our commitment to transforming California’s behavioral health system,” said Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “Through these awards, we are investing in bold, community-driven solutions that expand access to care, promote equity, and meet people where they are. These projects are a reflection of our values and vision for a healthier, more compassionate California.”

Newsom’s office also said the Department of Housing and Community Development will oversee up to $2 billion in Proposition 1 funds to build permanent supportive housing for veterans and others who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have mental health or substance-use disorder challenges.

“This is a generational investment in California’s behavioral health future. We are not just building facilities. We are building hope, dignity, and pathways to healing for thousands of Californians,” said Michelle Baass, director of the state Department of Health Care Services, in a statement.

Harvard University President Alan Garber on Monday sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon criticizing the Trump administration’s actions against the school while noting both groups share “common ground” on a number of issues. 

“We share common ground on a number of critical issues, including the importance of ending antisemitism and other bigotry on campus,” Garber said. “Like you, I believe that Harvard must foster an academic environment that encourages freedom of thought and expression, and that we should embrace a multiplicity of viewpoints rather than focusing our attention on narrow orthodoxies.”

However, Harvard’s goals are undermined and threatened “by the federal government’s overreach into the constitutional freedoms of private universities and its continuing disregard of Harvard’s compliance with the law,” Garber said. 

CALIFORNIA SHERIFF SLAMS ‘MERITLESS’ UCLA STUDENT LAWSUIT AGAINST POLICE WHO DISMANTLED ANTI-ISRAEL ENCAMPMENT

“Consistent with the law and with our own values, we continue to pursue needed reforms, doing so in consultation with our stakeholders and always in compliance with the law,” he wrote. “But Harvard will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear of unfounded retaliation by the federal government.”

Garber’s remarks are in response to a scathing letter last week from McMahon telling the university that it will no longer be eligible for federal grants over its handling of antisemitism on campus. 

“Receiving such taxpayer funds is a privilege, not a right,” she wrote. “Yet instead of using these funds to advance the education of its students, Harvard is engaging in a systemic pattern of violating federal law. Where do many of these ‘students’ come from, who are they, how do they get into Harvard, or even into our country – and why is there so much HATE?”

ISRAEL’S PRESIDENT RELEASES BLISTERING STATEMENT ON US UNIVERSITY ENCAMPMENTS: ‘RESURGENCE OF ANTISEMITISM’

“These are questions that must be answered, among many more, but the biggest question of all is, why will Harvard not give straightforward answers to the American public?” she added. 

The Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in funding to the university and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status. 

TRUMP SAYS HE’LL REVOKE HARVARD’S TAX-EXEMPT STATUS

In his letter, Garber listed some of the actions Harvard has taken to address issues on campus, including installing new deans and clarifying the school’s discipline structures and procedures. He noted that Harvard, like many universities, has work to do to foster intellectual diversity on campus. 

Garber also pushed back on McMahon’s claims that Harvard is a “partisan” institution. 

“I must refute your claim that Harvard is a partisan institution. It is neither Republican nor Democratic,” he wrote. “It is not an arm of any other political party or movement. Nor will it ever be. Harvard is a place to bring people of all backgrounds together to learn in an inclusive environment where ideas flourish regardless of whether they are deemed ‘conservative,’ ‘liberal,’ or something else, a place where assumptions and claims are tested and challenged, respectfully and thoughtfully, in pursuit of knowledge and truth.”