Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore Over $2 Billion Harvard Research Funding

A federal judge in Boston, Allison Burroughs, ruled that the Trump administration must restore over $2.2 billion in federal research funding to Harvard University, finding the administration’s funding freeze to be an unconstitutional retaliation against Harvard. The administration had justified the cuts by alleging Harvard failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus, but the judge concluded this was a smokescreen for an ideologically motivated attack on the university, emphasizing the importance of protecting both free speech and efforts to combat antisemitism. The ruling also found that the administration violated Harvard’s First Amendment rights and the civil-rights law Title VI. Despite this significant legal victory for Harvard, the government has indicated plans to appeal the decision, leaving uncertainty about the immediate restoration of funds. Critics within the administration characterized the ruling as biased, while Harvard and higher-education experts hailed it as a robust defense of academic freedom and constitutional protections. The case highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and leading universities over governance, funding, and ideological control.