The Trump administration is opening a new front in its battle with Harvard University on the issue of patents, marking a new escalation with the elite school that could result in the loss of additional federal funding or intellectual property rights.

After losing nearly $3 billion in research funding, Harvard University now risks losing control of its intellectual property in a latest Trump administration action.

In a letter sent to Harvard President Alan M. Garber on Friday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick alleges the university failed to follow several regulations outlined in federal law.