Harvard University sued the Trump administration on Monday after the federal government canceled billions of dollars in funding for the Ivy League school.
The lawsuit marks a significant — though expected — escalation in the battle between Harvard and President Trump after the nation’s oldest university rejected administration demands to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and change its admission and hiring practices, among other things.
In response, the Trump administration froze billions of dollars in funding, threatened the school’s tax-exemption status and said it could take away its ability to admit international students.
“Moments ago, we filed a lawsuit to halt the funding freeze because it is unlawful and beyond the government’s authority,” Harvard President Alan Garber said Monday.
The lawsuit accuses the administration of violating the First Amendment and asks a district judge in Massachusetts to stop any future harm from the federal government, declare the Trump’s administrations demands unconstitutional and reinstitute the university’s funding.
A storied US agency, one that began under President Kennedy in 1961 with the aim of...
