BOSTON — The ongoing conflict between Harvard University and the Trump administration regarding the suspension of a substantial $2.2 billion in grants is set to continue into the summer months.
A federal judge has slated July 21 for arguments pertaining to the university’s legal challenge against the government’s actions, following an initial brief court appearance by both parties.
The dispute began when Harvard initiated a lawsuit on April 21 after receiving communications from the Trump administration. These communications urged sweeping changes to governmental and leadership structures at the university, as well as modifications to its admissions policies.
The administration further insisted on the university conducting an audit on its campus diversity perspectives and ceasing recognition of certain student organizations. They argued that campuses, including Harvard, had allowed antisemitism to persist unchecked during protests criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza the previous year.
Harvard’s President, Alan Garber, has made it clear that the institution does not intend to comply with these demands.
This legal battle represents the Trump administration’s initial significant effort to implement changes at American universities, which some Republicans claim have become strongholds of liberalism and antisemitism. A focal point of this push involves targeting research funding, which, although crucial for scientific advancements, has seemingly become a bargaining chip for the administration.
In its lawsuit, Harvard described the freeze on funding as “arbitrary and capricious,” accusing it of infringing upon First Amendment rights and violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal assistance.