Harvard sues US agencies for meddling in academia

Harvard University announced on Monday that it has filed suit to halt a federal freeze on more than USD 2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration’s demands to limit activism.

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In an April 11 letter to Harvard, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university and changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus and stop recognising some student clubs.

Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding.

“The Government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation,” said the lawsuit, filed in Boston federal court.

“Nor has the Government acknowledged the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvard’s research programs, the beneficiaries of that research, and the national interest in furthering American innovation and progress,” it added.

Trump may also cut another $1 billion from Harvard health research funding, Wall Street Journal Reports.

Over 170 university, college and scholarly society presidents published a joint statement on Tuesday opposing the Trump administration's treatment of higher education institutions, coming together to speak out. The statement criticised what it described as “the unprecedented government overreach and political interference”.