Harvard Claims Government Has ‘Blacklisted’ It from Grants: Key Insights from Recent Lawsuit | CNN

The Trump administration has effectively excluded Harvard University from receiving federal funding, marking a significant shift in the battle over discrimination and ideology, as indicated by a new court filing. Harvard claims that this “blacklisting” has halted $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and $60 million in contracts that were already awarded.

Recently, Harvard received termination letters for grants from multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. These letters indicated that the grants were no longer aligned with agency priorities. This action puts Harvard, the oldest university in the U.S., in direct conflict with the government, which has also pulled funding from other prestigious institutions such as Columbia and Ohio State.

On the same day the lawsuit was filed, the administration’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced an additional $450 million in grants would be frozen. They claimed that Harvard’s campus has become a hub for discrimination, citing issues like antisemitism and alleged racial bias in admissions and the activities of the Harvard Law Review. However, the task force did not specify which grants would be affected.

In response, Harvard argues that solving issues of discrimination should not come at the cost of vital research and funding. The lawsuit asserts that there is no logical link between concerns about antisemitism and the crucial research efforts being frozen, which aim to enhance American lives and maintain the country’s leadership in innovation.

The financial blow is significant for Harvard, which has an endowment of $53.2 billion. They are currently covering the lost funding but acknowledge this can’t go on forever. If the university continues to use its own resources to replace federal funding, it may have to cut back on graduate admissions and staffing, affecting the quality and scope of its research activities.

Judge Allison Dale Burroughs set oral arguments for July. Without an immediate injunction from Harvard, the funding freeze is expected to remain in place through the summer.

In March, before funding cuts were announced, Harvard had already put a “temporary pause” on hiring staff and faculty to assess how the changes in federal policy would impact them. They filed a lawsuit soon after the government froze $2.2 billion in grants due to the university’s refusal to comply with several government demands regarding governance and a “viewpoint diversity” audit.

Harvard contends this interference violates the First Amendment rights of academic institutions. They assert that the Trump administration is ignoring impactful measures they’ve taken to combat antisemitism. The lawsuit emphasizes that Harvard actively opposes discrimination and is making efforts to address such issues on campus.

While the NIH’s funding termination letter typically allows grant recipients a chance to address concerns before funding is pulled, it stated that Harvard’s rejection of the administration’s terms showed that “no corrective action is possible.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon suggested that negotiations could continue, with room for finding common ground. However, Harvard remains firm that they will not withdraw the lawsuit as long as funding remains cut off.

Ultimately, this situation reflects a broader political climate surrounding higher education funding and the contentious relationship between universities and the federal government. The dialogue around academic freedom, funding, and civil rights continues to evolve, with both sides showing no signs of backing down.

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