Harvard sues Trump

Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, days after the federal government announced the freezing of $2.2 billion in grants intended for it.

NEW: Harvard University has sued the Trump administration, claiming its freezing of $2.2 billion in grants and demands for greater control over the university violated the First Amendment and other federal laws and regulations. nbcnews.to/3S42NbK

— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) 2025-04-21T23:21:48.782Z

The legal action comes after the Trump administration decided to freeze federal funding, in response to the university’s refusal to submit to a series of requirements. According to Harvard, these measures, presented as reforms against anti-Semitism on campus, would in reality constitute a disguised abuse of power.

In its complaint, Harvard accuses the Trump administration of masking, under the guise of concerns about anti-Semitism, a desire to increase its grip on the university, thus going beyond the limits of its governmental authority over a private institution.

It further asserts that the government fails to make a logical connection between these concerns and the freeze on research projects.

It accuses the government of seriously undermining research in crucial fields such as medicine, science and technology, areas the university considers essential to saving lives, ensuring national security and preserving U.S. global leadership.

As a reminder, the Trump administration’s demands on the university included the elimination of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, the introduction of merit-based selection only, restrictions on international students, the banning of pro-Palestinian groups, increased collaboration with immigration authorities, as well as a ban on the wearing of masks during campus protests.

Harvard then announced its refusal to comply with this series of demands formulated by the Trump administration. In response, Donald Trump immediately retaliated by freezing over $2 billion in federal funding and contracts earmarked for the university, also threatening to strip it of its tax-exempt status.

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