A federal judge in Boston ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated more than $2.2 billion in federal research grants to Harvard University. The decision comes after Harvard challenged the administration’s decision to suspend funding over concerns about governance, campus climate, and allegations of antisemitism.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee, determined that the funding cuts constituted unlawful retaliation and violated the First Amendment, the Civil Rights Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The court ordered the restoration of federal funding to the university and criticized the administration for using antisemitism as what she described as a “smokescreen” to justify the cuts.
The Trump administration had previously cited Harvard’s handling of antisemitic incidents and its refusal to implement governance reforms as justification for cutting funds. The university’s diversity policies and resistance to outside oversight had also drawn scrutiny. Despite these concerns, the court ruled that the funding decisions were not legally grounded and must be reversed immediately.
Judge Burroughs acknowledged the importance of combating antisemitism but wrote that federal agencies cannot infringe on protected speech or academic freedom in the process. Her opinion stated that “neither goal should be sacrificed on the altar of the other.”
The ruling is expected to be appealed. Legal analysts note that the case could influence future efforts by federal agencies to hold universities accountable when public funds are involved. Critics argue the judgment limits the government’s ability to respond to legitimate concerns about university conduct and ideological bias.
