Harvard Sues Trump Over Funding Freeze

Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, challenging the federal government’s decision to withhold billions of dollars in grants and contracts in what the university calls an unlawful overreach of authority.

The move comes after Harvard refused to comply with a series of demands from the administration, including the rollback of diversity initiatives, restrictions on campus protests, and increased scrutiny of international students.

"Unlawful and Beyond Government Authority"

In a statement, Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not yield to federal pressure.

"Over the past week, the federal government has taken several actions following Harvard’s refusal to comply with its illegal demands," Garber said. "Moments ago, we filed a lawsuit to halt the funding freeze because it is unlawful and beyond the government’s authority."

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, seeks to restore more than $2 billion in frozen research grants, which Harvard argues are vital for medical and scientific breakthroughs. Studies on pediatric cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease could be disrupted, the university warned.

"The consequences of the government’s overreach will be severe and long-lasting," Garber wrote in a message to the Harvard community. "No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study they can pursue."

Wider Crackdown on Elite Universities

The Trump administration has intensified scrutiny of top universities, accusing them of failing to combat antisemitism amid last year’s pro-Palestinian protests. Columbia University, Cornell University, and Brown University have also faced funding threats.

A White House spokesperson defended the freeze, stating, "The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families, is coming to an end."

Public opinion appears divided. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 57% of respondents opposed withholding federal funds from universities over ideological disagreements. Meanwhile, a Gallup survey last year showed declining confidence in higher education, particularly among Republicans, who increasingly view universities as pushing a political agenda.

Harvard, the world’s wealthiest university, relies on federal funding for much of its research. The administration has signaled that an additional $1 billion in grants could be suspended. The lawsuit argues that the freeze violates Harvard’s constitutional rights and seeks to "gain control of academic decision-making."

Garber, who is Jewish, acknowledged past issues with antisemitism at Harvard but said the university had established task forces to address the problem. Reports on antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias are expected soon.

Former President Barack Obama, a Harvard alumnus, has voiced support for the lawsuit, calling the funding freeze unlawful. The legal battle is likely to escalate as the administration continues its broader campaign against elite institutions.