Judge Rules Trump Administration Unlawfully Cut Harvard Grants

A federal judge in Boston has ruled that the Trump administration acted unlawfully when it terminated approximately US$2.2 billion in research grants awarded to Harvard University. The decision, announced by US District Judge Allison Burroughs on September 3, 2023, marks a significant legal victory for the Ivy League institution amid ongoing tensions with the White House.

The ruling prohibits the administration from cutting off research funding to Harvard, which has been at the center of President Trump’s efforts to leverage federal funds against universities he accuses of promoting antisemitic and “radical left” ideologies. This legal battle reflects broader conflicts between the Trump administration and elite educational institutions.

Background of the Conflict

Harvard has resisted a series of demands from the Trump administration aimed at changing its governance, hiring practices, and admissions processes. Trump’s officials sought to impose ideological “balance” and eliminate specific academic programs. After Harvard declined to comply, the administration moved to revoke hundreds of grants, alleging that the university failed to adequately address incidents of harassment against Jewish students. This assertion followed the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.

Harvard President Alan Garber criticized the administration’s actions, asserting they exceeded mere attempts to combat antisemitism. He described them as an unlawful effort to exert control over the “intellectual conditions” of the campus. Judge Burroughs, appointed by former President Barack Obama, had previously prevented the administration from instituting a ban on international students at Harvard, a group that constitutes about a quarter of the university’s enrollment.

Implications for Higher Education

The conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard is part of a broader initiative targeting prominent universities. In July, Columbia University reached a settlement to restore its funding, agreeing to pay US$220 million. Three other Ivy League institutions have also secured similar agreements. President Trump had demanded that Harvard pay “nothing less than US$500 million” to restore its funding, instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon in August to avoid negotiations.

Beyond revoking grants, the administration has threatened Harvard’s accreditation status and accused it of breaching federal civil rights laws. Harvard contended that the abrupt withdrawal of billions in funding jeopardized essential scientific and medical research. Judge Burroughs concurred, ruling that the administration’s actions violated federal law, as the president cannot condition research support based on political or ideological factors.

The implications of this ruling are expected to resonate throughout the higher education sector, where many universities rely heavily on federal research funding. The legal victory for Harvard may set a precedent that reinforces the independence of academic institutions from political influence, particularly concerning federal financial support.