Harvard University has expanded its lawsuit against the Trump administration following the termination of an additional $450 million in federal grants, bringing the total funding cuts to over $2.6 billion. The latest cancellations, announced on May 13, 2025, were made by eight federal agencies, including the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice. The administration’s antisemitism task force cited Harvard’s alleged failure to address pervasive racial discrimination and anti-Semitic harassment on campus as justification for the cuts .
In response, Harvard filed an amended complaint in federal court in Boston, challenging the legality of the funding freeze and the administration’s demands. The university argues that the conditions imposed—such as altering hiring and admissions practices, restructuring governance, and eliminating certain academic programs—constitute an infringement on academic freedom and violate the First Amendment. Harvard maintains that these actions are an overreach of executive authority and threaten the institution’s independence .
The Trump administration has stated that future research grants and aid will remain frozen until Harvard complies with its directives. However, the university has expressed its intention to continue legal action, asserting that the government’s demands are unconstitutional. This ongoing legal battle underscores the broader tensions between federal authority and institutional autonomy in higher education.
