In a heightened dispute between Harvard University and the Trump administration, Harvard has initiated legal action against the federal government. The lawsuit claims that the government’s recent moves, notably the freezing of over $2.2 billion in federal funding, breach the First Amendment and do not comply with established legal processes.
In a letter announcing the lawsuit, President Alan M. Garber of Harvard University expressed concern over the severe and lasting repercussions of the government’s actions. He highlighted the potential impact on critical research programs, including studies concerning child cancer survivors, the spread prediction of infectious diseases, and treatments for wounded soldiers.
The lawsuit asserts that the actions of the Trump administration pose a threat to Harvard’s academic independence and endanger essential and pioneering research on its campus. The administration has accused Harvard of failing to protect Jewish students, leading to a suspension of funds after the university declined to meet a set of demands.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields commented, suggesting that federal aid to institutions like Harvard is a privilege, which should meet certain conditions, citing that Harvard does not fulfill these requirements. In response, Harvard questions the relevance of freezing research funds as a strategy to combat antisemitism on campus.
A joint statement from nearly 200 higher education leaders, organized by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, was issued condemning what they termed an “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” threatening American higher education.
At Harvard’s Wyss Institute, led by Dr. Donald Ingber, the halt concerns research involving small devices that mimic human organs. These devices are used to study responses to radiation and to search for drugs that can counteract its effects. Recently, the lab received orders to stop work on three federal contracts worth over $20 million.
Dr. Ingber mentioned the necessity to pause experiments unless alternative funding sources are found, expressing concern over the potentially career-altering impact for the young scientists in his team. The research aimed to help individuals undergoing cancer treatment and astronauts exposed to radiation during space missions.
Harvard’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, seeks to prevent the Trump administration from using federal funding as leverage to influence academic decisions at the university. The legal complaint argues the administration’s actions interfere with speech to promote an ideological balance and fail to adhere to procedures for withdrawing federal funds due to discrimination claims.
Since the funding suspension, President Trump has also indicated the possibility of revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, a move that, while rare, is not unprecedented.
