Due to accusations of antisemitism and bigotry at the Ivy League university, a US judge on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to reverse significant funding cuts to Harvard University that had frozen over $2 billion.
Harvard was accused of failing to safeguard Jewish and Israeli students during campus rallies against Israel’s assault in Gaza, and the administration, vowing to appeal, argued that its action was legally acceptable.
Harvard refuted the allegations, claiming that Trump was more concerned with managing the curriculum, admissions, and employment practices of the esteemed university.
The cuts to Harvard’s funding stream forced it to implement a hiring freeze while pausing ambitious research programs, particularly in the public health and medical spheres — pauses experts warned put American lives at risk.
The ruling could shape talks on a settlement reportedly underway between Harvard and the White House under which the university would pay a sum acknowledging Trump’s claims, with federal funding restored in return.
Other universities have struck similar deals with the administration.
“The Court vacates and sets aside the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters as violative of the First Amendment,” Boston federal judge Allison Burroughs said in her order.
“All freezes and terminations of funding to Harvard made pursuant to the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters on or after April 14, 2025 are vacated and set aside.”
The decision also prevents the administration from reducing funding in the future on the same grounds.
Despite Wednesday’s resounding court victory, Harvard may yet decide to follow Columbia University’s lead and reach a settlement with the administration, Ray Brescia, a professor at Albany Law School, told AFP.
Trump “could go back to the negotiating table and offer Harvard a better deal than they have been offering. I think that there has been some talk about a $500 million settlement,” he said.
“People settle cases all the time for lots of reasons, even if they think they are 100 percent right.”
Harvard president Alan Garber said that “even as we acknowledge the important principles affirmed in today’s ruling, we will continue to assess the implications of the opinion.”
The ruling “validates our arguments in defense of the University’s academic freedom,” he added.
