New Legal Battle Between the White House and Harvard Over Federal Funding
December 20, 2025538 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated its confrontation with Harvard University after officially filing an appeal against a court ruling that reinstated federal funding that the administration had previously frozen, amid accusations of anti-Semitism and political bias within the university.
The White House Challenges Court Ruling
Trump's administration lawyers submitted an appeal to a federal court, confirming the government's intention to contest the ruling that allowed the reinstatement of funding for Harvard, noting that the case will be referred to a U.S. appeals court, without specifying a date for the hearing yet.
Financial Restrictions Affecting Prestigious U.S. Universities
The U.S. administration had previously imposed strict restrictions limiting Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from accessing federal funds allocated for student aid.
The measures included:
Freezing approximately $2.6 billion in federal grants
Suspending funding related to healthcare programs
Cancelling the SEVIS certification that allows international students to study in the United States
International Students at the Heart of the Crisis
International students represent about 27% of Harvard's total student body for the 2024–2025 academic year, making them a key source of revenue for the university, and amplifying the impact of government decisions on its financial and academic stability.
Trump's Policy Towards Universities
Since returning to the White House last January, Trump has launched an extensive campaign against several U.S. universities, threatening to cut federal funding over issues his administration deemed "ideological overreach," including:
Pro-Palestinian protests against the Israeli war on Gaza
Transgender policies
Climate initiatives
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
Accusations of Failing to Protect Jewish Students
The Trump administration accuses some universities, including Harvard, of not providing adequate protection for Jewish or Israeli students during protests on campus calling for an end to the war in Gaza, accusations that several academic institutions reject and consider a restriction on freedom of expression.
A Conflict Beyond Funding
This case reflects a broader conflict between the U.S. administration and academic institutions, extending beyond funding issues to deeper questions regarding freedom of speech, the role of universities, and the limits of political intervention in higher education.
The White House Challenges Court Ruling
Trump's administration lawyers submitted an appeal to a federal court, confirming the government's intention to contest the ruling that allowed the reinstatement of funding for Harvard, noting that the case will be referred to a U.S. appeals court, without specifying a date for the hearing yet.
Financial Restrictions Affecting Prestigious U.S. Universities
The U.S. administration had previously imposed strict restrictions limiting Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from accessing federal funds allocated for student aid.
The measures included:
Freezing approximately $2.6 billion in federal grants
Suspending funding related to healthcare programs
Cancelling the SEVIS certification that allows international students to study in the United States
International Students at the Heart of the Crisis
International students represent about 27% of Harvard's total student body for the 2024–2025 academic year, making them a key source of revenue for the university, and amplifying the impact of government decisions on its financial and academic stability.
Trump's Policy Towards Universities
Since returning to the White House last January, Trump has launched an extensive campaign against several U.S. universities, threatening to cut federal funding over issues his administration deemed "ideological overreach," including:
Pro-Palestinian protests against the Israeli war on Gaza
Transgender policies
Climate initiatives
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
Accusations of Failing to Protect Jewish Students
The Trump administration accuses some universities, including Harvard, of not providing adequate protection for Jewish or Israeli students during protests on campus calling for an end to the war in Gaza, accusations that several academic institutions reject and consider a restriction on freedom of expression.
A Conflict Beyond Funding
This case reflects a broader conflict between the U.S. administration and academic institutions, extending beyond funding issues to deeper questions regarding freedom of speech, the role of universities, and the limits of political intervention in higher education.
