Two organizations representing the faculty of Harvard University sued the Trump administration on Friday over its threats to cut $9 billion in federal funding.
The lawsuit, filed by the American Association of University Professors and the Harvard chapter of the group, seeks an immediate temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration from withholding its federal funding.
“This action challenges the Trump administration’s unlawful and unprecedented misuse of federal funding and civil rights enforcement authority to undermine academic freedom and free speech on a university campus,” it said.
The lawsuit also underscored the urgency of the funds, which it said are “crucial to ensuring the American university system remains a global leader in scientific, medical, and technological research.” It adds that threats to cancel the funding are an “existential ‘gun to the head’” for Harvard.
The legal action comes after the Trump administration first announced a “comprehensive review” of the over $9 billion in federal funding for Harvard in late March. Education Secretary Linda McMahon pointed to the university’s failure to address antisemitism on campus following widespread pro-Palestinian protests and DEI practices as the reasons for the scrutiny.
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Following its review, the administration demanded Harvard ban masks at campus protests, which students wore to hide their identities, and eliminate DEI programs.
Harvard is not the only Ivy League university to be targeted by the Trump administration. In March, Columbia University agreed to changes in its protest policies, Middle Eastern studies department, and security practices.