Harvard University filed a lawsuit on April 21 against the Trump administration, challenging a freeze on more than $2.2 billion in federal research funding and contracts, calling the move unlawful and politically motivated.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, accuses the Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget of violating Harvard’s First and Fifth Amendment rights by imposing the freeze without proper notice or due process. Harvard argues that the action was taken in retaliation for the university’s political views and academic independence.
“This freeze is an attempt to punish us for standing by our values,” said Harvard President Claudine Gay in a statement. “The government is trying to use financial pressure to force changes that are not just illegal, but against everything Harvard stands for.”
The conflict began earlier this year when the Department of Education opened an investigation into Harvard’s campus diversity policies, under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. However, the lawsuit claims the freeze was implemented without completing the necessary steps, such as giving Harvard a chance to address the concerns.
The government’s freeze reportedly comes with a series of demands — including changes to the university’s governance and diversity initiatives — that Harvard believes are politically charged and overreach the government’s authority.
“The government cannot dictate how a university operates or what values it promotes,” said Constitutional Law Expert Marisol Vega. “This lawsuit is about protecting academic freedom from government interference.”
The freeze puts at risk ongoing research projects across multiple fields, including partnerships with the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy, which rely heavily on federal funding.
A hearing for the case is set for July 21 in Boston.
This lawsuit adds to the growing tension between the Trump administration and major universities, many of which have been under scrutiny for their diversity programs and campus activism.
