Harvard University announced that it filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, pushing back against what it calls unfair and illegal demands. The move comes after the administration froze $2.2 billion in funding for the school and threatened to withhold an additional $1 billion. 

“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 lawsuit said.

Harvard is also facing potential federal investigations and challenges to its tax-exempt status and new threats to its international students — setting up a legal battle with high stakes for the future of the university.

In a letter sent to the university, the Trump administration directed Harvard to implement stricter disciplinary measures for protesters and to screen international students for any who might be “hostile to American values.”

In a letter sent to the University  Administration directed Harvard to implement stricter disciplinary measures for protesters and to screen international students for any who might be “hostile to American values.”

The letter emphasized that the institution had failed to meet the “intellectual and civil rights conditions” and said the university should maintain “viewpoint diversity” across all departments to ensure a diversity of viewpoints.

This would require Harvard to hire an external, government-approved party to audit programs and departments that are seen as “fueling antisemitic harassment.”

Additionally, the letter called for faculty staff to be checked for plagiarism.

The administration also called for sweeping leadership reforms at the university, changes to the admissions policy and the removal of recognition from certain student clubs. 

Harvard stated that they would not comply with President Donald Trump’s demands, citing the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech as its reason.

“Make no mistake: Harvard rejects antisemitism and discrimination in all of its forms and is actively making structural reforms to eradicate antisemitism on campus. But rather than engage with Harvard regarding those ongoing efforts, the Government announced a sweeping freeze of funding for medical, scientific, technological, and other research that has nothing at all to do with antisemitism and Title VI compliance,” the university wrote in its complaint.

“‘Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” Trump posted on Truth Social on April 15.

New York Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik, posted a statement on X, “It is time to totally cut off US taxpayer funding to this institution.”

In response, Harvard professors filed the lawsuit, arguing that the government’s actions amounted to an unlawful attack on freedom of speech and academic freedom.

Columbia University agreed to several demands to restore the $400 million in federal funding the White House froze on March 8.

On March 24 however, Columbia issued a letter reflecting a firmer stance, which stated that while it was engaged in “good faith talks” with the government to restore its funding, it would “reject any agreement that would require us to relinquish our independence.”

As the legal battles unfold, the outcome will shape the future relationship between American universities and the federal government. Both Harvard and Columbia find themselves at the center of a broader debate over academic freedom, free speech and institutional autonomy.