A federal judge in Boston ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated approximately $2.2bn in research grants awarded to Harvard University. The decision by US District Judge Allison Burroughs prevents the administration from cutting off research funding to the Ivy League school, marking a significant legal victory for Harvard.
The case stems from the administration's broader campaign to use federal funding to pressure universities over alleged antisemitism and 'radical left' ideologies. Harvard became a central target after pro-Palestinian protests erupted on its campus following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent war in Gaza.
The administration cancelled hundreds of grants, claiming Harvard failed to address harassment of Jewish students. It also sought to bar international students, threatened accreditation, and found the school in violation of federal civil rights law. Harvard argued the demands went beyond addressing antisemitism and unlawfully sought to regulate 'intellectual conditions' on campus, including hiring and admissions practices.
Judge Burroughs, an appointee of President Barack Obama, previously blocked the administration from halting Harvard's ability to host international students, who make up about a quarter of the student body. The ruling comes as three other Ivy League schools, including Columbia University, struck deals with the administration to restore funding.
