Mathias Busekist
The review is the latest effort of a federal task force to combat antisemitism on college campuses.
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Harvard University faculty members have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of threatening to revoke nearly $9 billion in federal funding unless the university complies with politically motivated demands.
The lawsuit, filed by the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the national AAUP, also seeks a temporary restraining order to block the administration from cutting off funding, according to CNN.
The legal action follows a letter from a federal task force earlier this month outlining conditions tied to the funding, including dismantling Harvard’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, banning masks at protests, and mandating cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
“This case involves an unprecedented threat… that fundamentally compromises the university’s independence and the free speech rights of its faculty and students,” the lawsuit states.
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The lawsuit claims violations of the First Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. It also cites previous cuts to Columbia University’s funding, which resulted in major policy shifts seen as concessions to the administration.
Andrew Manuel Crespo, Harvard law professor and counsel for the AAUP chapter, stated, “The First Amendment does not permit government officials to silence critics by threatening to cancel grants.”
Harvard President Alan Garber warned that losing federal support would halt vital research and innovation. Meanwhile, nearly 800 faculty members have called on Harvard to reject the administration’s demands and defend academic freedom.
The White House has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
