Harvard Battles White House In Court Over Terminated Research Grants

Harvard University is set to appear before a federal judge on Monday in a legal attempt to restore approximately $2.5 billion in federal research funds that were recently revoked by President Donald Trump’s administration, and to halt further funding cutoffs aimed at the university.

The hearing, taking place before U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston, represents a major development in the intensifying dispute between the White House and Harvard. Tensions escalated after the university refused to comply with demands issued in April regarding its leadership structure, staff recruitment, and student admissions.

University officials warn that hundreds of ongoing research efforts, covering critical areas like cancer therapy, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s—are at risk unless the funding terminations are ruled invalid.

The Ivy League institution has emerged as a focal point in the administration’s broader campaign to reshape higher education through financial pressure. President Trump has accused many elite academic institutions of harboring antisemitic views and promoting far-left ideologies.

“The Trump administration’s proposition is simple and commonsense: Don’t allow antisemitism and DEI to run your campus, don’t break the law, and protect the civil liberties of all students,” — White House spokesperson Harrison Fields

The initial action taken against Harvard involved the cancellation of numerous grants. The administration claimed that the school inadequately addressed incidents involving the harassment of Jewish students.

Subsequent measures included proposals to block international students from enrolling, threats to revoke Harvard’s accreditation, and additional funding cuts tied to alleged violations of civil rights laws.

As part of a revised tax plan signed under Trump, the tax on revenue generated from Harvard’s endowment, valued at $53 billion, was increased from 1.4% to 8%. This income supports nearly half of the university’s annual operations.

Last week, Harvard President Alan Garber stated that if current policies remain in place, the university could lose close to $1 billion each year, potentially resulting in staff layoffs and a freeze in new hiring.

Harvard has responded by highlighting the actions it has taken to improve the campus climate for Jewish and Israeli students, particularly after reports of “vicious and reprehensible” behavior surfaced in the wake of the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.

Still, Garber has emphasized that the administration’s approach extends far beyond curbing antisemitism. He claims it aims to impose external control over the university’s academic environment, including decisions on personnel and curriculum.

The April 11 letter from a federal task force included sweeping directives for Harvard to revamp its leadership system, revise hiring and admissions procedures to reflect ideological diversity, and eliminate certain academic initiatives.

After rejecting these terms, Harvard accused the administration of retaliating by unlawfully revoking essential federal support, violating First Amendment protections around freedom of expression and academic independence.

Judge Burroughs, who was appointed during the Obama administration, has already ruled in a separate matter that the federal government could not stop Harvard from hosting international students.

President Trump has expressed hope that a resolution could be reached. Fields, speaking on Friday, said that “a good deal was more than possible” and that officials are “confident that Harvard will eventually come around and support the president’s vision.”

In its legal filings, the administration has claimed the court has no jurisdiction over the matter, and that the canceled grants were lawfully terminated, as they failed to align with the federal government’s policy goals.