Harvard University has launched a high-stakes legal battle against the Trump administration, filing a federal lawsuit to halt the withholding of $2.3 billion in research funding and contesting demands the institution claims threaten its academic independence. The move marks the first major legal pushback by a U.S. university against what Harvard describes as a "broad attack" on academic freedom.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Boston federal court, argues that President Donald Trump's administration unlawfully tied federal funding to compliance with policies including a proposed mask ban and elimination of diversity initiatives. Administration officials initiated a review of $9 billion in Harvard's federal grants in March, citing concerns over antisemitism and ideological bias during pro-Palestinian campus protests.
"This case involves the government's efforts to use federal funding as leverage to control academic decision-making," the filing states, alleging violations of First Amendment rights. University President Alan Garber emphasized Harvard's commitment to combating discrimination while defending institutional autonomy: "Instead of collaboration, we face overreach that threatens whom we hire and teach."
The dispute arises amid heightened tensions between the White House and leading research universities. Since January, the administration has paused funding for several institutions including Columbia and Princeton, demanding details about foreign ties and campus policies. Critics argue conflating criticism of Israel's military actions with antisemitism risks chilling free speech.
Federal agencies named in the lawsuit—including the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services—have yet to respond publicly. The case could set precedents for government-university relations and research funding frameworks affecting thousands of students and faculty worldwide.
