Harvard University is pushing back hard against a new move by President Donald Trump’s administration to freeze billions in federal funding over accusations of campus anti-Semitism. In a bold response, the Ivy League school has filed a lawsuit, claiming the government is using its power and money to interfere with university independence.
“This case is about much more than funding,” Harvard stated in court documents filed in Massachusetts. “It’s about the government trying to take control of how universities make decisions — decisions that should be protected by law and the Constitution.”
Last week, Trump ordered a halt to over $2.2 billion in research grants and other funding meant for Harvard, demanding changes to how the university handles admissions, hiring, and political speech on campus. But Harvard has drawn a line in the sand, saying it will not allow political pressure to dictate how it runs its affairs.
“This is not just an attack on Harvard, but on academic freedom itself,” said Alan Garber, the university’s president. “We won’t trade our independence for funding.”
Trump has not held back in his attacks, calling Harvard “a joke” on social media and accusing it of spreading hate. But the university insists it has taken serious steps to address anti-Semitism, including disciplining students and reviewing its policies.
The administration has also threatened Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, who make up over 27% of the student body. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security have demanded records on visa holders and their alleged involvement in protests — a move Harvard says has nothing to do with actual anti-Semitism.
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In contrast to Harvard’s firm stance, some other schools like Columbia University have quietly complied with less severe demands. But Harvard is calling for the courts to declare the funding freeze illegal and to order the government to pay the university’s legal costs.
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