Harvard University sued the Trump administration in the week after weeks of standoff with the federal government over anti-Semitism on campus, which issued a freeze in a $2.2 billion federal funding freeze after private institutions rejected a far-reaching reform last week.
The Trump administration has called for Harvard University’s university governance, recruitment, enrollment, etc., although the investigation has not yet reached any conclusions.
President Alan Garber announced the move in a statement to the university community on Monday, noting that while some officials in the Trump administration claimed that the letter was sent by chance, the federal government’s actions showed that it had a purpose.
“Doubling down on the letter’s sweeping and intrusive demands—which would impose unprecedented and improper control over the University—the government has, in addition to the initial freeze of $2.2 billion in foundation, considered taking steps to freeze an additional $1 billion in grants, initiated numerous investigations of Harvard’s operations, threatened the education of international students, and announced that it is considering a revocation of Harvard’s 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
The lawsuit comes after the Trump administration threatens to cut off Harvard’s ability to host international students and reportedly attempts to freeze another $1 billion in research funding.
“It is clear that the government’s actions violate due process and the rule of law,” said Ted Mitchell, chairman of the U.S. Board of Education. “We praise Harvard for taking this step and look forward to the clear statement that the court condemns the destruction of scholarships and science.”
The lawsuit at Harvard University named the heads of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, Education, Energy and Defense, the General Services Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and related agencies. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.
