WASHINGTON—At least three major universities said they wouldn’t accept funds allocated to them under the coronavirus stimulus package after President Trump began pressuring Harvard University over the money.

The president incorrectly suggested the aid was intended to go to small businesses, but it was allocated to the schools as part of a stimulus provision for higher education. Harvard said Wednesday that it would ask the Education Department to reallocate the nearly $9 million the institution would have gotten, noting that it had neither applied for the money nor received it. The school had said it would use 100% of those funds as aid to students whose finances have been affected during the pandemic.

“We have previously said that Harvard, like other institutions, will face significant financial challenges due to the pandemic and economic crisis it has caused,” a spokesman said. “We are also concerned however, that the intense focus by politicians and others on Harvard in connection with this program may undermine participation in a relief effort that Congress created and the president signed into law for the purpose of helping students and institutions whose financial challenges in the coming months may be most severe.”

The school asked that “special consideration” be given to struggling institutions in Massachusetts.

The money was allocated to schools based on the number of low-income students enrolled as well as total enrollment.