Boston: A group of Harvard University professors has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to halt its review of nearly $9 billion in federal contracts and grants awarded to the Ivy League institution. The legal action comes amid broader efforts by the administration to address what it claims is rising antisemitism on U.S. college campuses.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in a federal court in Boston, was brought by the Harvard faculty chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) along with the organization’s national body. The plaintiffs argue that the administration’s actions constitute an unlawful infringement on academic freedom and violate constitutional protections of free speech.
The U.S. Department of Justice, tasked with defending the administration’s actions, did not provide a comment when requested on Saturday. Harvard University, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, also declined to comment on the case.
Harvard is among several prestigious universities facing scrutiny and potential funding threats under the Trump administration. Officials have cited concerns stemming from pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, and university policies related to gender identity and expression.
On March 31, the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, along with the General Services Administration, announced that they were reviewing $255.6 million in active contracts between Harvard, its affiliates, and the federal government, along with $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments.
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In a follow-up letter, the agencies issued a series of conditions for Harvard to continue receiving federal funds. These included banning the use of masks during demonstrations, dismantling DEI programs, and pledging to cooperate more closely with law enforcement agencies. The letter further demanded that Harvard review and amend programs and departments accused of contributing to “antisemitic harassment” and enforce stricter accountability measures for student conduct violations.
The administration has cited its authority under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in institutions receiving federal funding. However, the plaintiffs claim the administration has not complied with the law’s procedural requirements and that the measures infringe upon First Amendment rights.
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The lawsuit contends that the administration’s real aim is to pressure Harvard into adopting political positions aligned with its own. “The First Amendment does not permit government officials to use the power of their office to silence critics and suppress speech they don’t like,” said Andrew Crespo, a Harvard law professor and general counsel for the university’s AAUP chapter.
The legal challenge highlights growing tensions between academic institutions and federal authorities over campus speech, protest rights, and institutional autonomy.
