Washington DC [US]: Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump, alleging “unprecedented and improper control” over academic institutions, amid escalating threats to freeze more than $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts, according to The New York Times.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts on Monday, is a response to mounting pressure from the Trump administration demanding access to campus reports on antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias dating back to October 2023.
Harvard University President Alan M. Garber expressed deep concern over the government’s stance:
“As a Jew and as an American, I know very well that there are valid concerns about rising antisemitism,” said Garber. “But the government must legally engage with the university rather than trying to control whom we hire and what we teach.”
Garber accused the administration of attempting to use federal funding as leverage to seize control of academic governance, saying the consequences would be “severe and long-lasting.”
Government Pressure & Demands
According to the lawsuit and media reports, the Trump administration issued a series of sweeping demands in exchange for continued federal support. These included:
- Eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs
- Banning masks at campus protests
- Instituting merit-based hiring and admissions reforms
- Curbing the influence of faculty and administrators deemed “more committed to activism than scholarship”
In addition to the $2.2 billion in broader funding, another $1 billion in federal health research contracts could be withheld, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Political Undercurrents
President Trump has repeatedly targeted Harvard and other elite institutions, branding them as “Radical Left” and accusing them of prioritizing ideology over education.
“Harvard is a joke,” Trump said in a recent post, adding the institution “should not be considered on any list of the world’s great universities or colleges.”
Academic Freedom Under Fire
The lawsuit marks a defining moment in the broader clash between academia and government, with Harvard framing the administration’s demands as a violation of academic freedom and institutional autonomy. The case also references other universities that have allegedly faced abrupt funding threats under similar pretexts.
As legal proceedings unfold, the case could set significant precedent for the limits of federal influence over higher education in the United States.