Harvard sues Trump administration over $2.3 billion fund freeze
Harvard University, one of the world's leading institutions, has filed a lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, demanding the release of withheld federal funds. The university asserts that the government's actions infringe upon its independence and freedom of speech.
Harvard has initiated legal proceedings against President Trump's administration, accusing it of withholding federal funds. In a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Boston, the university alleges that the administration is attempting to exert control over Harvard's academic decisions by withholding funds.
Harvard claims this is part of a broader campaign against leading American universities, which are accused of tolerating anti-Semitism and failing to adequately address pro-Palestinian protests. The university's provost, Alan Garber, emphasized that the university will continue to combat hatred and adhere to anti-discrimination regulations.
Freezing of funds and demands from the Trump administration
In March, the Trump administration began reviewing Harvard's funding, which amounts to $9 billion. As a result of this review, $2.3 billion was frozen, accompanied by a threat to revoke the university's tax-exempt status.
The blocking of funds is a response to the university's refusal to alter its diversity policies, including increasing the representation of students and faculty with conservative views. The administration also demanded detailed information on the university's international connections and the implementation of a ban on mask-wearing.
The freezing of funds has led to the suspension of many research projects at Harvard. The university, which receives about $9 billion annually in grants and federal contracts, is the largest recipient of research funding in the U.S. According to "U.S. News & World Report," Harvard's endowment stands at $50.7 billion, making it the wealthiest university in the U.S.
Harvard is not the only institution that has experienced fund freezes. Similar actions have been taken against other prestigious universities, such as Columbia, Princeton, Cornell, Northwestern, and Brown. All these institutions have been sites of protests that the Trump administration deemed problematic.
Since taking office in January, President Trump has launched a public offensive against prominent American universities, accusing them of mishandling last year's pro-Palestinian protests and turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism on campuses. Demonstrators — among them various Jewish organizations — maintain that their objections to Israel’s military operations in Gaza are being unfairly interpreted as anti-Semitic, according to Reuters.
