On Monday, Harvard University appeared in federal court in Boston as its battle with the Trump Administration continues. The University argues the government illegally cut $2.6 billion in federal funding, after the Trump administration launched a review of nearly $9 billion in grants and contracts with the University. The Trump administration has accused Harvard of violating the civil rights of its Jewish students by not doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus during student demonstrations in support of Palestine.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs heard arguments for “summary judgment” under advisement from both the Ivy League institution and the Government. Judge Burroughs appeared to lean in favor of Harvard while listening to the arguments in the university’s lawsuit over cuts to federal funding.
If federal funding cuts are not reversed, lab closures– along with the associated loss of research and careers, would be imminent. Judge Burroughs called the matter “mind boggling”, stating, “If the goal of the administration’s actions was to combat antisemitism, don’t you have to show each researcher is antisemitic, instead of a blanket statement: Harvard is antisemitic?”
In April, in response to the government’s funding freeze, Harvard President Alan Garber explained, “the consequences of the government’s overreach will be severe and long-lasting.” Judge Burroughs seemed to share the Harvard President’s views, asking, “How could the administration reasonably tie withdrawal of medical research funding to concerns about the civil rights of Jewish people?” She continued, suggesting “staggering constitutional consequences if the government could punish a university without due process.”
Though Harvard did not dispute that antisemitic incidents have occurred on its campus in court on Monday, it expressed that a “litany of actions” has since been taken to address such occurrences. Steven P. Lehotsky, a lawyer for Harvard, stated, “We’re not aware of a single case in six decades where the federal government has terminated research funding” due to allegations of discrimination.
In response to Judge Burroughs’ statements in court, President Donald Trump took to social media, blasting the federal judge. “She is a TOTAL DISASTER, which I say even before hearing her Ruling. She has systematically taken over the various Harvard cases, and is an automatic ‘loss’ for the People of our Country!” Trump wrote to his platform, Truth Social.
The President continued by criticizing Harvard as well, writing: “When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN. Also, the Government will stop the practice of giving many Billions of Dollars to Harvard, much of which had been given without explanation.” The president labelled the University, “anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-American.”
Judge Burroughs denounced antisemitism and explained that the matter before her, “was not about whether anyone favored antisemitism,” but rather, “whether there’s a legitimate relationship between our distaste for discrimination and the approach the administration is taking.” Federal Judge Burroughs did not issue a ruling from the bench in Monday’s case. Her ruling on Harvard’s request to restore billions in funding cuts is expected later in writing.
