A U.S. federal court ruled that the Donald Trump administration's decision to freeze $2.2 billion in federal research funding to Harvard University, which it designated as a 'progressive leftist den,' was illegal. The judiciary has intervened in the Trump administration's policy of trying to control prestigious U.S. universities with federal funds.
According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Allison Burrows in Massachusetts ruled on the 3rd (local time) that the Trump administration illegally froze Harvard's research subsidies of $2.2 billion and ordered them to immediately lift the funding freeze. Burrows emphasized, 'The administration must not freeze or deny additional funding to Harvard.'
In a 84-page ruling, Judge Burrows pointed out that the administration's claim of 'anti-Semitism' was merely a pretext. He stated, 'It is hard to conclude anything other than that the administration used anti-Semitism as a 'smokescreen' for its ideological targeted attacks on the country's top universities.' He added, 'These actions have jeopardized decades of research and the welfare of all who benefit from it, showing a disregard for the rights protected by the Constitution and federal law.'
After Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 last year, the Trump administration began intense pressure when pro-Palestinian protests escalated on the Harvard campus, labeling it as 'anti-Semitism.' In April, the administration suspended hundreds of federal research subsidies, claiming that Harvard had not made sufficient efforts to address anti-Semitism on campus.
At that time, the administration set ten conditions for restarting funding, including ▲ the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies ▲ ideological bias review during faculty hiring and student admissions ▲ investigation of departments and programs that promote anti-Semitism, effectively trying to intervene in the overall operation of the university. DEI is a policy that U.S. universities have widely adopted to consider minority races and socially disadvantaged groups. President Trump has criticized it as a 'radical left policy that encourages reverse discrimination.'
Harvard immediately rejected the administration's demands. Harvard President Alan Garber said, 'No government should dictate what a private university teaches, who it admits, or who it hires,' standing firmly against it. The administration then froze funding just hours later. A week later, Harvard filed a lawsuit in federal court, calling the funding freeze a 'clear act of retaliation that violates the freedom of expression and academic freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment.'
Until the court's ruling came down, Harvard appeared to succumb to the pressure from the Trump administration. Four months after funding was halted, Harvard changed the name of its DEI-related department last August. It also abolished the position of supervisor for supporting LGBTQ and low-income students in the dormitories. Following that, it implemented policy changes that complied with the administration's demands, including suspending exchanges with Palestinian universities. Nevertheless, President Trump recently pressured Harvard during a Cabinet meeting, stating, 'We must get at least $500 million from Harvard. Do not negotiate.'
However, while pursuing a settlement behind the scenes, Harvard adopted a 'two-track strategy' of not giving up on the lawsuit until the end. As a result, it won in federal court, gaining an advantageous position for the ongoing negotiations. The New York Times (NYT) commented, 'This ruling is a clear rebuke to the Trump administration's campaign to forcibly restructure elite higher education.'
The Trump administration immediately retaliated. The Ministry of Education stated, 'Ultimately, the same Obama-appointed judge who ruled in favor of Harvard's illegal race-based admissions practices overturned it at the Supreme Court, and now has made a ruling against the efforts of the Trump administration,' hinting at the possibility of an appeal. This ruling allows Harvard to protect approximately 3 trillion won in research funds, but conflicts with the Trump administration are expected to continue for some time.