Harvard University has amplified its legal challenge against the Trump administration following the announcement of an additional $450 million in federal grant terminations. The Ivy League institution, which is already grappling with the cancellation of over $2.2 billion in funding, filed an expanded lawsuit on Tuesday in Boston federal court.
This latest wave of funding cuts, made public by a federal antisemitism task force, adds to the growing controversy surrounding the university’s stance on campus protests. The task force, comprised of representatives from various federal agencies—including Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice—claims the school has failed to adequately address concerns over “pervasive race discrimination and antisemitic harassment.”
In its amended complaint, Harvard, which first filed suit in April, argues that the sweeping freeze of federal grants, including those from the Departments of Defense, Energy, and the National Science Foundation, represents a violation of its First Amendment rights. The university contends that the Trump administration’s actions lack any legitimate connection to the charges of antisemitism and are an unjustified overreach.
The lawsuit is focused not only on the cancellation of existing grants but also on the administration’s threat to freeze billions of dollars in future research funding unless the university meets certain demands. Harvard asserts that the administration’s broad demands—encompassing future research funding and other aid—are unconstitutional and have been imposed without the proper legal process.
The legal action comes amid the Trump administration’s ongoing scrutiny of the university, particularly following controversial pro-Palestinian protests on campus. These protests, sparked by the conflict in Gaza, have led to allegations that the university is harboring antisemitic sentiments. While some protesters, including Jewish groups, argue that their opposition to Israeli policies in Gaza is not rooted in antisemitism, the administration has linked the protests to broader concerns about campus antisemitism and extremist sympathies.
Harvard, despite having the largest university endowment in the U.S. at $53 billion, insists that its commitment to academic freedom and safety on campus has not wavered. The institution has called the administration’s actions a direct threat to academic freedom and freedom of speech.
The case, now before U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, is scheduled for a hearing on July 21, where the university hopes to block the grant terminations and secure a ruling against the administration’s policies.
