Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its “unlawful” multibillion dollar freeze of research funding to the university.
“Moments ago, we filed a lawsuit to halt the funding freeze because it is unlawful and beyond the government’s authority,” Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a post on X.
The move comes just one day after the Trump administration planned to cut another $1 billion in federal grants and contracts to the university, according to the Wall Street Journal, which is in addition to the $2.2 billion freeze that was announced last week.
In response to the lawsuit, a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Harvard’s “gravy train of federal assistance” is coming to an end.
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“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,” the statement read. “Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege.”
In the 51-page complaint obtained by Fox News Digital, Harvard accused the Trump administration of unlawfully freezing billions in research funding to pressure the university into restructuring its governance, academic programs and hiring practices.
“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,” Harvard’s lawyers wrote in the Monday filing.
The complaint continued, stating that the “University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
“No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” it said.
The complaint argues that the freeze violates the First Amendment by “imposing viewpoint-based conditions on Harvard’s funding.”
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Garber said in his message that “the consequences of the government’s overreach will be severe and long-lasting,” just days after the White House asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status over its alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus.
“The government has cited the University’s response to antisemitism as a justification for its unlawful action. As a Jew and as an American, I know very well that there are valid concerns about rising antisemitism. To address it effectively requires understanding, intention, and vigilance. Harvard takes that work seriously. We will continue to fight hate with the urgency it demands as we fully comply with our obligations under the law. That is not only our legal responsibility. It is our moral imperative,” – Harvard University President Alan Garber
The complaint also addressed the school’s commitment to addressing antisemitism, and acknowledged that “important steps have been taken,” but “there is still much work to do.”
“Harvard is committed to combatting antisemitism, one of the most insidious forms of bigotry” and to “broaden[ing] the intellectual and viewpoint diversity within [its] community,” the complaint said, in part.
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The complaint argues that the administration cannot tie a “rational connection” between antisemitism and the federal funding the university receives for research purposes.
“The Government has not—and cannot—identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation,” the complaint reads.
Additionally, the complaint claims that the “Government has not acknowledged the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvard’s research program.”
In March, the Justice Department began a “comprehensive review” of the school’s federal contracts and government-funded grants. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) canceled $2.7 million in DHS grants to the university.
Garber also acknowledged the recent reports, saying they “are hard-hitting and painful.”
“No one in our community should experience bias, intolerance, or bigotry. We believe adoption of the recommendations and other measures will go far toward eradicating those evils on our campus,” Garber said.
In a recent social media post, Trump claimed that Harvard had “lost its way” and didn’t deserve federal funding.
“Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and ‘birdbrains’ who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called ‘future leaders,'” Trump wrote. “Look just to the recent past at their plagiarizing President, who so greatly embarrassed Harvard before the United States Congress.
“Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
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