Harvard University Sues Trump Administration | EUROtoday

Harvard University filed a lawsuit Monday in opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration after the federal government froze billions of {dollars} in federal grants over what it had claimed was antisemitism on the college.

The college alleges in its lawsuit that the slashing of federal funding is to “gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard.”

Alan M. Garber, the college’s president, stated in an announcement that the federal government’s “overreach” may have “severe and long-lasting” penalties.

“Research that the government has put in jeopardy includes efforts to improve the prospects of children who survive cancer, to understand at the molecular level how cancer spreads throughout the body, to predict the spread of infectious disease outbreaks, and to ease the pain of soldiers wounded on the battlefield,” Garber stated. “As opportunities to reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease are on the horizon, the government is slamming on the brakes. The victims will be future patients and their loved ones who will suffer the heartbreak of illnesses that might have been prevented or treated more effectively. Indiscriminately slashing medical, scientific, and technological research undermines the nation’s ability to save American lives, foster American success, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation.”

In an announcement, White House spokesman Harrison Fields described the funding as a “privilege.”

“The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families is coming to an end,” he stated. “Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege.”

On April 11, the Trump administration wrote Harvard a letter threatening to withhold federal grants if the college didn’t comply to 10 calls for, which included ending all DEI applications, closing down departments which are important of Israel, limiting the admissions of overseas college students, banning sure scholar teams and extra. Harvard stated in a letter that it might not make a cope with the Trump administration.

“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” legal professionals Robert Hur and William Burck wrote within the letter to the administration. “Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle.”

Garber stated in an announcement on the time that the federal government’s circumstances went “beyond the power of the federal government.”

The administration then froze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts.

“All told, the tradeoff put to Harvard and other universities is clear: Allow the Government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardize the institution’s ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions,” the lawsuit reads.

The Trump administration has focused Harvard and different universities over supposed antisemitism after pro-Palestine protests broke out at campuses throughout the nation. Student activists have stated they’re being falsely accused of antisemitism and imagine the administration is attempting to silence college students talking up for Palestinians’ human rights.

Harvard stated within the lawsuit that it’s engaged on combating antisemitism, however similar to another college, it can’t “allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.”

The college added that there isn’t a “rational connection” between antisemitism issues and withholding analysis funding that may profit Americans and “maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation.”

Last month, Columbia University agreed to the administration’s calls for after its funds have been stripped.