Harvard University has signaled a willingness to meet US President Donald Trump administration’s demand to spend as much as $500 million to end its dispute with the White House as talks between the two sides intensify, four people familiar with the negotiations said, The New York Times reports.

The sum sought by the government, which recently accused Harvard of civil rights violations, is more than twice as much as the $200 million fine that Columbia University said it would pay when it settled antisemitism claims with the White House last week.

President Trump has privately demanded that Harvard pay far more than Columbia.