Federal Judge Rules Trump Administration Illegal Freeze on $2.2B Harvard Funding

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's freeze of $2.2 billion in federal research funding to Harvard University was unconstitutional, finding it amounted to retaliation and coercion that violated the First Amendment, Title VI, and the Administrative Procedures Act. Judge Allison Burroughs stated that the administration used allegations of antisemitism as a smokescreen for an ideologically motivated attack on elite universities, including Harvard, and ordered the restoration of the funding. The ruling emphasized the importance of protecting academic freedom and free speech while combating antisemitism, noting that Harvard is actively addressing antisemitism on campus. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision, which comes amid broader disputes involving federal investigations and funding freezes targeting higher education institutions. Harvard's legal victory is seen as a significant check on the administration's expansive view of presidential power and its efforts to control universities through funding threats. The case highlights ongoing tensions between government authority and constitutional protections in the context of federal research funding and campus political expression.