Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Cuts

Strategic Insights -

Harvard University has challenged the Trump administration's decision to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding, arguing that the move violates the school's First Amendment rights and ignores federal civil rights law. The university's lawyers claimed that the administration's actions are "cooked up" and unconstitutional, and that the government's reasons for freezing the funding are a post hoc rationale.

Key Takeaways:

  • Harvard has challenged the Trump administration's move to slash billions of dollars in federal funding, citing the violation of its First Amendment rights and ignoring federal civil rights law.
  • The university's lawyers argued that the administration's actions are "cooked up" and unconstitutional, and that the government's reasons for freezing the funding are a post hoc rationale.
  • Harvard has taken steps to address antisemitism on campus, but the administration has repeatedly said the problem persists and must be acted upon forcefully.
  • The case is being watched by all of higher education, with more than a dozen amicus briefs filed in support of Harvard, arguing that the administration is imperiling academic freedom, the autonomy of institutions of higher education, and the decades-long research partnership between universities and the federal government.
  • Eighteen former officials who served in past Democratic and Republican administrations noted in an amicus brief that they were aware of no instances in more than 40 years where federal funds had been terminated under Title VI, the provision of civil rights law that Trump officials have in some cases cited in slashing Harvard's grants.
  • The administration's lawyer argued that the government froze the funding because the school had not done enough to combat antisemitism, but the judge appeared skeptical of this rationale, pressing the government on what process it had followed in deciding to terminate a major portion of Harvard's federal funding.
  • Harvard has asked the judge to grant a summary judgment, set aside the funding freezes and terminations, and block any similar actions as soon as possible before Sept. 3, after which the university believes the government will take the position that restoration of the funds is not possible.

Statistics:

  • $9 billion: The amount of federal funding that the Trump administration announced it would review earlier this year.
  • $2 billion: The amount of federal research grants to Harvard that the administration froze in April.
  • 40 years: The length of time during which federal officials have been aware of no instances where federal funds have been terminated under Title VI.
  • More than a dozen: The number of amicus briefs filed in support of Harvard.

Sources:

  • Susan Svrluga, Joanna Slater, and Terell Wright, "Harvard sues Trump administration over billions in lost funding," The Washington Post, August 30, 2022.
  • Harvard University, "Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief," filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, August 2022.
  • American Association of University Professors, "Amicus Brief in Support of Harvard University," filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, August 2022.