Landmark First Amendment Victory for Academic Freedom: Selendy Gay Secures Major Win for Harvard University

Selendy Gay, the law firm representing the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), has scored a significant legal victory in a high-profile case against the Trump administration over the termination of federal research funding to Harvard University. On September 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled that the administration acted unlawfully and in violation of Harvard's constitutional rights, finding that the administration's actions were a retaliatory response to Harvard's refusal to comply with demands to alter its academic governance, hiring, and diversity programs. The ruling prohibits the government from further terminating or freezing Harvard's federal research funding and affirms that public institutions cannot be coerced into abandoning core academic and constitutional principles.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration's termination of $2 billion in federal research funding to Harvard University was deemed unlawful and in violation of Harvard's constitutional rights by U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs on September 4, 2025.
• The court found that the administration's actions were a retaliatory response to Harvard's refusal to comply with demands to alter its academic governance, hiring, and diversity programs.
• Selendy Gay's legal team, led by Special Counsel Corey Stoughton, successfully argued that the administration's actions violated Harvard's First Amendment rights.
• The ruling prohibits the government from further terminating or freezing Harvard's federal research funding and affirms that public institutions cannot be coerced into abandoning core academic and constitutional principles.
• The case and its broader implications for higher education received extensive national media coverage, including front-page reporting by The New York Times and a detailed analysis by Reuters.
• Settlement discussions between Harvard and the White House continue, but the ruling significantly strengthens the university's position and reinforces the legal limits on government overreach.
• The Selendy Gay team features Philippe Selendy, Julie Singer, Corey Stoughton, Aine Carolan, Drake Reed, Sylvia Woodmansee, and Zarah Zhao.
• Selendy Gay is proud to have played a key role in this landmark case and remains committed to protecting the rights of institutions and individuals facing unlawful political interference.

Statistics:

• $2 billion: The amount of federal research funding terminated by the Trump administration to Harvard University.
• September 4, 2025: The date when U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled that the administration acted unlawfully and in violation of Harvard's constitutional rights.
• 1: The ruling prohibits the government from further terminating or freezing Harvard's federal research funding.
• 0: The number of Harvard University programs altered due to government coercion, as the court ruled that public institutions cannot be coerced into abandoning core academic and constitutional principles.

Sources:

• U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs' ruling, dated September 4, 2025.
• Reuters, "Trump administration's Harvard funding cut challenged in court."
• The New York Times, "Harvard University Wins Ruling Against Trump Administration's Funding Cuts."