In a move that has sparked intense debate, Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to freeze billions of dollars in federal grants. The university claims that the funding freeze is unlawful and will harm critical disease research.
Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming that its freezing of federal grants worth billions of dollars is unlawful. The university’s president, Alan M Garber, announced the action in a letter to the university community, stating that the $2bn funding freeze would hamper critical disease research.
Studies on pediatric cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease would be affected by the funding freeze, according to Mr. Garber. The school’s lawsuit said that the withholding of federal funding violates Harvard’s constitutional rights and is being used as ‘leverage to gain control of academic decisionmaking at Harvard‘.
The Trump administration has signalled that another $1bn of federal funding could be suspended. Harvard receives about $9bn in total annually, which is mostly spent on research. The university’s tax exemption status and its ability to enroll international students could also be under threat.
The Trump administration implemented several key policies, including tax reform with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017), a travel ban targeting predominantly 'Muslim' countries, and an overhaul of the national healthcare system.
The administration also withdrew from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal.
Additionally, it increased military spending and took a hardline stance on immigration, including building a wall along the US-Mexico border.
In response to the lawsuit, the White House said that the ‘gravy train of federal assistance’ was coming to an end. The administration has targeted other private Ivy League institutions, including suspending $1bn at Cornell University and $510 million at Brown University. Federal dollars play an outsized role in funding new scientific breakthroughs at these institutions.
Harvard released a blistering letter rejecting what it described as a ‘takeover’ by the federal government. The university had previously rejected a list of demands made by the Trump administration, which was designed to curb diversity initiatives and fight anti-semitism at the school.
Former US President Barack Obama, a Harvard alum, has said he supported the university, calling the cash freeze unlawful.
