Harvard University has filed a federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration over the funding freeze, accusing the White House of an “arbitrary and unconstitutional campaign to punish Harvard for defending its constitutional rights.” About this informs The Harvard Crimson.
The lawsuit was filed a day after the Trump administration announced an additional $1 billion in federal funding cuts to the university — on top of the $2.2 billion in cuts already approved.
“This has set off a historic legal standoff as Harvard struggles to resist the Trump administration’s devastating interagency campaign to cut funding to the university in exchange for major concessions — including federal audits of Harvard programs, agreements to vet international students for their beliefs and the appointment of administrators who will enforce White House demands.”, the message says.
Lawyers representing Harvard noted that the university, like other higher education institutions, actually faced a choice: acquiesce to government micro-control or jeopardize the ability to achieve medical breakthroughs, scientific results and innovation.
In the 51-page lawsuit, Harvard is asking the court to declare illegal and halt the $2.2 billion freeze and any further restrictions related to “unconstitutional conditions” outlined in the Trump administration’s April 3 and 11 letters demanding the university.
Also in the complaint, Harvard accuses the administration of “illegally blocking billions in research funding in order to force the university to change its management system, curricula and personnel policies.” The document claims that these actions violate the First Amendment to the US Constitution because they “impose financial conditions based on ideological views.”
