Harvard refuses to comply with Trump orders, sues US govt for $2 billion funding freeze

Harvard University on Monday said that it has filed a lawsuit to block a federal freeze on over $2.2 billion in grants, following its decision to oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to curb campus activism. This comes a week after Trump administration asked the university to reform its leadership, change admission policies, audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognising some student clubs.

To this, Harvard President Alan Garber responded saying it would not bend to the demands. Following this, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding.

What does the Harvard lawsuit say? 

In its lawsuit, the Harvard University said that the federal government has not acknowledged the consequences the fund freezing would have on the research programs and the American progress and innovation.

Harvard also said that the government move violated First Amendment rights and the statutory provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and was also, “arbitrary and capricious and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.”

It said, “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."

“Nor has the Government acknowledged the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvard’s research programs, the beneficiaries of that research, and the national interest in furthering American innovation and progress,” it added.

The Trump order to Harvard University

In a letter dated April 11, the Trump administration urged Harvard to enforce stricter disciplinary measures against protesters and to vet international students for any who may be deemed “hostile to American values.”

It also called for an audit of its faculty and student body, changes to admission policies and denying recognition to some student clubs.

Last Monday, Harvard said it would not comply, citing the First Amendment. The following day, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, questioning whether the university should lose its tax-exempt status “if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’”

“Today, we stand for the values that have made American higher education a beacon for the world,” Alan Garber wrote Monday to the Harvard community.

“We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honor their legal obligations and best fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion. That is how we achieve academic excellence, safeguard open inquiry and freedom of speech, and conduct pioneering research,” he wrote.

(With agency inputs)