Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies, challenging the Trump administration’s decision to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding.
The suit, filed in the US District Court in Massachusetts, alleges that the freeze violates Harvard’s First Amendment rights and federal statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Harvard argues that the federal government has overstepped its authority by attempting to dictate internal university operations, including governance structure, hiring practices and academic content. The suit portrays this as a direct attack on principles of academic freedom protected by the First Amendment.
"The Government's demands on Harvard cut at the core of Harvard's constitutionally protected academic freedom because they seek to assert governmental control over Harvard's research, academic programs, community, and governance," the complaint states.
Harvard's suit details how the Trump administration demanded the University restructure its governance, achieve specific "viewpoint diversity" quotas in every department, discontinue diversity and inclusion programs, and terminate recognition of certain student organisations. The University contends that these demands represent unlawful government interference in private educational decisions.
"Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government," Harvard stated in its April 14 response letter to the government.
The lawsuit emphasises that the funding freeze threatens critical medical and scientific research, including work on treatments for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, cancer diagnostics, infectious disease prevention and military technology developments. Harvard contends that this action harms not just the University, but the broader public interest.
"Since its founding nearly four centuries ago, Harvard’s students, faculty, and researchers have helped identify and solve some of society’s most pressing problems. Those pathbreaking and life-saving advancements are due in part to the longstanding collaboration between universities such as Harvard and the federal Government dating back to the Second World War. Millions of Americans are healthier and safer as a result. Federal funding has enabled researchers at Harvard to develop novel drugs to fight Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, engineer nanofibers to protect servicemembers and first responders, support American astronauts in space, and design an artificial intelligence system that can be used to diagnose and treat cancer."
Harvard contends that federal agencies violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to follow legally required procedures before freezing funding. The complaint details how the government was required to provide notice, opportunity for voluntary compliance, formal hearings and congressional notification before taking such action.
"Under whatever name, the Government has ceased the flow of funds to Harvard as part of its pressure campaign to force Harvard to submit to the Government's control over its academic programs," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit outlines steps Harvard has already implemented to address anti-semitism on campus, including adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-semitism, suspending policy-violating student organisations, and forming a Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism. These actions are presented as evidence that the university is addressing concerns without surrendering its independence.
Harvard's lawsuit requests several specific remedies from the court, including declarations that the funding freeze is unlawful, orders to vacate and set aside the government's actions, and permanent injunctions preventing agencies from implementing or maintaining the freeze. The University is also asking the court to expedite proceedings to minimise harm to ongoing research programs.
