Judge Strikes Down Trump Era Harvard Funding Block

Clear Facts

• A federal judge ruled the Trump administration’s block on federal funding for Harvard University unconstitutional.
• The administration claimed Harvard failed to stop antisemitism and used unlawful DEI and racial preferences.
• The court held that removing Harvard’s funding infringed on free speech rights.

On Wednesday, Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled the Trump administration’s move to revoke over $2 billion in federal funds from Harvard University violated free speech protections.

This decision follows accusations that Harvard did not do enough against antisemitism and used illegal race-based admissions.

“Defendants and the President are right to combat antisemitism and to use all lawful means to do so. Harvard was wrong to tolerate hateful behavior for as long as it did,” the ruling stated.

“We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech, and neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other.'”

White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston responded,

“Just as President Trump correctly predicted on the day of the hearing, this activist Obama-appointed judge was always going to rule in Harvard’s favor, regardless of the facts.”

“To any fair-minded observer, it is clear that Harvard University failed to protect their students from harassment and allowed discrimination to plague their campus for years. Harvard does not have a constitutional right to taxpayer dollars and remains ineligible for grants in the future. We will immediately move to appeal this egregious decision, and we are confident we will ultimately prevail in our efforts to hold Harvard accountable.”

Harvard has faced a standoff with the administration for months, resisting calls for change by citing academic freedom and free speech concerns.

The administration signaled willingness to negotiate, but Harvard continued to fight its case in court.

The judge’s ruling acknowledged,

“Harvard is currently, even if belatedly, taking steps it needs to take to combat antisemitism and seems willing to do even more if need be.”

“Now it is the job of the courts to similarly step up, to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost.”

“The First Amendment is important and the right to free speech must be zealously guarded,” the ruling added.

Department of Education deputy assistant secretary Madi Biedermann said,

“In an unsurprising turn of events, the same Obama-appointed judge that ruled in favor of Harvard’s illegal race-based admissions practices – which was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court – just ruled against the Trump Administration’s efforts to hold Harvard accountable for rampant discrimination on campus.”

“Cleaning up our nation’s universities will be a long road, but worth it.”

Debate continues over the university’s future federal funding and possible appeals.

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Read the full report at Daily Caller