By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) – The Trump administration on Friday ordered a comprehensive review of Harvard University’s federally funded research programs, and threatened to take title to or grant licenses from the school’s lucrative portfolio of patents.

In a letter to University President Alan Garber and obtained by Reuters, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Harvard of breaching its legal and contractual requirements tied to the research programs and patents.

Lutnick also said the Commerce Department has begun a “march-in” process under the federal Bayh-Dole Act that could let the government take ownership of the patents or grant licenses.

Signed in 1980, that law ensures that Americans benefit from inventions funded through taxpayer dollars, a senior administration officia

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