Harvard University professors have filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s review of nearly $9 billion in federal funding, alleging violations of academic freedom and free speech. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Boston federal court by the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and its national counterpart, challenges the legality of the administration’s review, which it says is politically motivated.
The administration began reviewing $255.6 million in contracts and $8.7 billion in long-term grant commitments to Harvard and its affiliates. Officials from the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and General Services Administration demanded that Harvard meet several conditions to retain funding, including banning masks during protests, eliminating DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs, and ensuring cooperation with law enforcement.
The administration cited Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination by federally funded institutions, as its legal basis for the crackdown. However, the plaintiffs argue that these actions are politically driven and infringe upon constitutional rights. According to the lawsuit, the administration is attempting to force Harvard to adopt its political agenda by threatening to withhold funding based on pro-Palestinian campus protests and university policies on inclusion and gender identity.
Harvard law professor Andrew Crespo, counsel to the school’s AAUP chapter, said the move violates First Amendment protections. “Government officials cannot use their power to suppress speech they disagree with,” he stated.
Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor Harvard commented on the lawsuit.
The case highlights growing tensions between elite universities and the Trump administration over issues such as academic expression, antisemitism, and protest rights. If successful, the lawsuit could set a precedent in the battle over federal influence on higher education policies.