Harvard sues Trump administration over $2.2B US grant freeze

Harvard University announced Monday that it was suing the Trump administration to halt a freeze on more than $2.2 billion US in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration's demands to limit activism on campus.

In a letter to Harvard earlier this month, Trump's administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university, as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognizing some student clubs.

Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the government's demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding.

"The Government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America's position as a global leader in innovation," the university wrote in its lawsuit.

"Nor has the Government acknowledged the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvard's research programs, the beneficiaries of that research, and the national interest in furthering American innovation and progress," the lawsuit said.

In its lawsuit, Harvard said the funding freeze violated its First Amendment rights and the statutory provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The freeze, according to the lawsuit, was also "arbitrary and capricious and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act."

The lawsuit follows one filed earlier this month by the American Association of University Professors demanding that a federal judge declare unlawful and put aside a pending review and investigation of Harvard's funding.

The Trump administration did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment. Education Department spokesperson Madi Biedermann declined to comment on the lawsuit.

'Dangerous and escalating demands'

In its letter dated April 11, the administration, told Harvard to impose tougher discipline on protesters and to screen international students for those who are "hostile to the American values."

It also called for broad leadership reforms at the university, changes to admissions policies and the removal of college recognition for some student clubs. The government also demanded Harvard audit its faculty and student body to ensure wide viewpoints in every department and, if necessary, diversify by admitting additional students and hiring new faculty.

Last Monday, Harvard said it would not comply, citing the First Amendment. The following day, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, questioning whether the university should lose its tax-exempt status "if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting 'Sickness?'"

The university frames the government's demands as a threat not only to the Ivy League school, but to the autonomy that the Supreme Court has long granted American universities.

LISTEN | Trump's war on higher education: 

Front Burner34:44‘Professors are the enemy’: Trump’s war on higher education

In a 2021 speech entitled ‘The Universities are the enemy,’ Vice President JD Vance laid out a plan for America’s universities saying in part “we have to honestly and aggressively attack the universities in this country.” Columbia University has become ground zero for the Trump administration's war on higher education. Following a year of pro-Palestinian protest on campus, Trump revoked $400-million in funding and has instructed federal agents to oversee raids on campus, looking to deport international students and permanent residents that have been involved in protest.  Joseph Howley is a professor at Columbia and joins the show to discuss the last year and a half on campus, at a time students are being hunted, and some feel the university has capitulated to the demands of a hostile government. For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts]

For the Trump administration, Harvard presents the first major hurdle in its attempt to force change at universities that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. A part of that is targeting research funding which has fuelled scientific breakthroughs but has become an easy source of leverage for the Trump administration.

"Today, we stand for the values that have made American higher education a beacon for the world," Garber wrote Monday to the Harvard community.

"We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honour their legal obligations and best fulfil their essential role in society without improper government intrusion," he wrote.

"That is how we achieve academic excellence, safeguard open inquiry and freedom of speech, and conduct pioneering research."

Anurima Bhargava, one of the alumni who has encouraged Harvard to take a tougher stand against the administration, praised the filing of the lawsuit.

"The Trump administration continues its reckless and unlawful attack for power and control over Harvard, slashing billions in funding for scientific research and innovation that improves and saves lives," she said. "Today, Harvard once again refused to accede to the administration's dangerous and escalating demands."

The American Council on Education, a nonprofit with more than 1,600 member colleges and universities, applauded Harvard.

"It has been clear for weeks that the administration's actions violated due process and the rule of law. We applaud Harvard for taking this step and look forward to a clear and unambiguous statement by the court rebuking efforts to undermine scholarship and science," said Ted Mitchell, the council president.