Harvard University has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration after the government announced a freeze on $2.2 billion in grants, a move Harvard officials call “unprecedented and improper”3. The legal action, submitted in Massachusetts, alleges that the administration’s actions violate the First Amendment and overstep federal authority by using funding as leverage to control academic decisions.
The dispute escalated after Harvard refused to comply with a list of demands from the Trump administration, which were purportedly aimed at addressing antisemitism and included calls for a review of student perspectives and restrictions on certain international students. University President Alan Garber stated that Harvard “will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights” in the face of government pressure.
The administration’s funding freeze affects research initiatives in critical areas such as tuberculosis, ALS, and pediatric cancer. Harvard’s lawsuit argues there is no rational link between the government’s stated concerns and the frozen research, warning of “significant and enduring” consequences for scientific innovation and public health.
As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for academic freedom and the future of federally funded research at leading universities.
