Harvard Sues Trump Admin Over Freeze in Federal Funding
Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the federal government after the Trump administration froze billions in taxpayer funding to the school, escalating an ongoing standoff over campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The lawsuit follows the administration’s decision last week to freeze $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard. The administration has also warned it may freeze an additional $1 billion, citing the university’s release of a private letter regarding federal demands.
The conflict centers on pro-Palestinian protests at Harvard, which have continued since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The Trump administration has pressured the Ivy League school to implement changes to address antisemitic sentiment on campus.
“The consequences of the government’s overreach will be severe and long-lasting,” Harvard President Alan Garber said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. Garber also argued that the funding cuts would harm the university’s research project on childhood cancer.
“The Government has not – and cannot – identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation,” the lawsuit stated.
The Trump administration has issued a list of requirements for Harvard to combat antisemitism, but the university has pushed back. The standoff follows Columbia University’s decision to comply with federal demands to try and restore its federal funding.
“Instead of grandstanding, Harvard should focus on rebuilding confidence among all students, particularly Jewish students,” a White House spokesman told the Wall Street Journal. The White House remains open to dialogue, but serious changes are needed at Harvard.”
In addition to the funding freeze, the administration has threatened to revoke Harvard’s access to foreign exchange students. The Department of Homeland Security has also demanded records on international students accused of “illegal and violent activities,” and the Treasury Department is reportedly considering revoking the university’s nonprofit status.
