Federal Judge Rules Trump Administration Unconstitutional in Harvard $2.6B Funding Dispute

Harvard University won a significant legal victory against President Donald Trump's administration after a federal judge ruled the freeze on over $2 billion in federal research funding unconstitutional, citing First Amendment violations and lack of proper procedural measures. The administration had accused Harvard of mishandling antisemitism on campus and sought to impose reforms, including changes to admissions policies and governance, as well as threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status. Judge Allison Burroughs found that the government's actions were retaliatory and used antisemitism concerns as a pretext for ideological control over universities, violating civil rights and administrative laws. This ruling not only restores Harvard's funding but also challenges the Trump administration's broader efforts to exert federal influence over public university policies, a strategy also observed in other states. Harvard's leadership emphasized the importance of university autonomy and constitutional protections against government overreach. The decision is likely to impact ongoing negotiations with the administration and set a precedent for other institutions facing similar federal scrutiny.