Shamini 
(C): Twitter
Harvard University has broadened its lawsuit against the Trump administration after the federal government canceled an additional $450 million in grant making an increasing legal and political confrontation even deeper. This move comes following an earlier freeze of more than $2.2 billion in federal funds at least partly because of the White House’s recognition of Harvard’s handling of antisemitism allegations.
On Tuesday, Harvard filed an amended complaint in federal court in Boston that stated the funding cuts violate the university’s rights under the First Amendment. The university claims the government is attempting to control its academic decisions by imposing financial consequences on the university. “Harvard will be unable to make decisions relating to faculty hiring, academic programs, student admissions, without fear that those decisions will conflict with government censors,” the filing says.
The newly filed complaint identifies letters Harvard received from multiple federal agencies, including NIH, Department of Agriculture and Department of Defense, officially terminating grants and referencing alleged inaction by the university with respect to antisemitism on campus. According to an NIH letter, NIH would not accept any corrective action, stating that Harvard’s inaction with various antisemitic events voided the grants.
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President Donald Trump has accused Harvard of failing to protect Jewish students, and Harvard claims it is being punished for standing by its academic independence. University President Alan Garber has pushed back on the accusations, warning that the government’s actions threaten academic freedom and free speech.
There’s a hearing on July 21. The case has become a flashpoint in Trump’s broader effort to reshape the American cultural and educational landscape. The cuts to funding already pose a risk to Harvard research projects and the Massachusetts economy.
