By President Donald Trump that Harvard failed to properly address antisemitism on campus. Tensions soared after the university refused to implement sweeping changes to its governance, hiring, discipline policies, and diversity programs demanded by the government.
President Alan Garber said in a statement, “We filed a lawsuit to halt the funding freeze because it is unlawful and beyond the government’s authority.” He revealed the school could also lose an additional $1.1 billion in grants, face crackdowns on foreign students, and risk losing its tax-exempt status.
The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts federal court, argues that the government’s actions violate Harvard’s First Amendment rights and the Administrative Procedures Act. It urges the court to declare the funding freeze unconstitutional and block its enforcement.
Trump administration officials, including Vice President James D. Vance, criticized Harvard’s $53 billion endowment and called for the IRS to consider taxing the school as a political entity. Critics claim the school has become too politically active and not accountable enough in managing antisemitic incidents.
Harvard’s legal team slammed the freeze, stating, “The government has not, and cannot, identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, and technological research it has frozen.” The university argues the research in question directly supports American lives, innovation, and global leadership.
