Topline
The Trump administration’s temporary freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University was unconstitutional, a judge ruled Wednesday, arguing in favor of the university as it challenges antisemitism allegations and denies a list of demands from the Trump administration made in response to pro-Palestinian protests held on campus last year.
The order was issued Wednesday. (Photo by Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images)
VCG via Getty Images
Key Facts
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said in her order Harvard tolerated hateful behavior but the federal government “used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities” that violated the First Amendment.
Burroughs has ordered the Trump administration to restore the funding, which is made up of $2.2 billion in multi-year grants.
The ruling comes as Harvard and the Trump administration negotiate a $500 million settlement, according to the Associated Press, which cited an unnamed person familiar with the matter who noted an agreement could be reached soon—though it is unclear how Wednesday’s ruling could impact settlement talks.
Forbes has reached out to the White House for comment.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal.
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Crucial Quote
“The idea that fighting antisemitism is Defendants’ true aim is belied by the fact that the majority of the demands they are making of Harvard to restore its research funding are directed, on their face, at Harvard’s governance, staffing and hiring practices, and admissions policies—all of which have little to do with antisemitism and everything to do with Defendants’ power and political views,” Burroughs said in her order.
Tangent
The Trump administration has also targeted Harvard through an attempted ban against the university enrolling international students, which made up 27.2% of its student body last year. Harvard sued the Trump administration in a separate case also involving Burroughs, challenging the attempted ban and scoring a legal win in June, when the judge blocked the ban from being carried out.
Key Background
Harvard’s federal funding was frozen in April as part of a large-scale funding threat made to several universities across the U.S. The government also demanded Harvard make changes to its governance and its hiring and admissions processes. Attorneys for the university argued Harvard “nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.” Out of all the universities targeted by the Trump administration over antisemitism allegations, Harvard has resisted the most, while universities like Columbia and Brown have settled and adhered to some of the administration’s demands.
Further Reading
Trump Administration Freezes $2.2 Billion In Harvard Federal Funding After University Refuses To Comply With Demands (Forbes)
