Federal Judge Restores $2.6 Billion Harvard Research Funding

A federal judge in Boston, Allison D. Burroughs, has ruled that the Trump administration must restore over $2.6 billion in federal research funding to Harvard University, finding that the administration's cuts were an illegal retaliation and ideologically motivated rather than a genuine effort to combat antisemitism. The judge emphasized that while combating antisemitism is important, the administration's actions were a smokescreen to target Harvard for political reasons, violating the university's First Amendment rights and civil rights protections. Despite acknowledging Harvard's shortcomings in addressing antisemitism, the judge found little connection between the funding cuts and efforts to combat antisemitism. The ruling is seen as a significant victory for Harvard and higher education broadly, though the administration has indicated plans to appeal, maintaining that Harvard did not adequately protect its students from discrimination. Harvard and its legal team criticized the administration's tactics as unconstitutional attempts to control academic freedom. The case underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and major universities over governance, free speech, and diversity policies.