Harvard University has sued the Trump administration after it saw billions of dollars of its funding frozen, in part due to allegations that the college has not done enough to tackle campus antisemitism.
The federal government announced last month that it would be reviewing Harvard’s entire $9 billion package and suspending the delivery of more than £2 billion in grants in connection with an investigation into over 60 universities by the Education Department.
The probe was prompted widely by what the administration sees as the creep of left-wing ideology into higher education, but was more immediately sparked by the wave of pro-Palestine protests that swept campuses last year.
Trump and his allies have repeatedly voiced concerns that the protests included a prominent antisemitic element and claimed that Jew-hatred is endemic in US colleges.
However, Harvard has rejected the government’s conditions for the restoration of the funding and accused the administration of trying to “take over” the institution.
In its court filings, the university wrote: “Under whatever name, the government has ceased the flow of funds to Harvard as part of its pressure campaign to force Harvard to submit to the government’s control over its academic programs. That, in itself, violates Harvard’s constitutional rights.
"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."
"Make no mistake: Harvard rejects antisemitism and discrimination in all of its forms and is actively making structural reforms to eradicate antisemitism on campus...but rather than engage with Harvard regarding those ongoing efforts, the Government announced a sweeping freeze of funding for medical, scientific, technological, and other research that has nothing at all to do with antisemitism and Title VI compliance,” the suit added.
Harvard president Alan Garber, who is Jewish, has also criticised the decision to withhold funding, claiming that it would damage vital research in areas like medicine and even cost lives.
If successful, the suit could see the administration ordered to restart the funding without imposing conditions on the college, at least in research areas not directly connected with pro-Palestine protests and international affairs.
Responding to the suit yesterday, a White House statement said: “The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families is coming to an end.
"Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege."
