Harvard University is asking a federal judge to unfreeze $2.5 billion in research funding halted by the Trump administration, calling the move illegal and politically motivated. In a filing submitted Monday to the U.S. District Court in Boston, Harvard argued the funding freeze violates its free speech rights and threatens vital scientific projects, including research on cancer, pediatric HIV, Parkinson’s, and infectious diseases.
Since April 14, Harvard claims it received 957 separate orders to suspend funding after rejecting a White House demand list. Among the halted grants are $88 million for pediatric HIV research, $12 million for detecting biological threats, and $8 million for dark energy studies. The university emphasized the devastating impact on ongoing scientific work.
The Trump administration has framed the freeze as part of a broader crackdown on what it calls leftist "woke" ideology and alleged antisemitism in elite universities. It has launched multiple investigations into Harvard, examining issues such as discrimination based on sex and gender, threats against Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests, and ties to foreign governments.
Last month, the administration also revoked Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, prompting a separate lawsuit. A federal judge temporarily blocked that action.
Harvard filed its lawsuit in April, accusing the administration of acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner, weaponizing funding to suppress academic freedom. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs has scheduled a hearing for July 21 to consider Harvard’s motion for summary judgment—a request to resolve the case without a full trial.
University leaders warn that Trump’s actions threaten not only core constitutional freedoms but also the very foundation of academic research in the U.S. The administration has not yet responded publicly to the filing.