Massive setback for Donald Trump! US court overturns Trump administration’s decision on THIS matter, Judge asks officials to…

Harvard rejected the demands on April 14, immediately after which the Trump administration froze USD 2.2 billion in research funding.

Written by: Victor Dasgupta Edited by: Victor Dasgupta

Published: September 4, 2025, 8:05 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/world/donald-trump-harvard-university-us-president-judge-allison-burroughs-tariff-war-white-house-universities-in-us-linda-mcmahon-alan-garber-judge-burroughs-8052768/ Copy

New Delhi: In a major victory for Harvard, a US court has overturned the Trump administration’s decision to cut USD 2.6 billion in research funding for the university. Judge Allison Burroughs said the cut was unjustified and was imposed only because Harvard refused to comply with certain government demands. The Trump administration had earlier accused the university of failing to stop anti-Semitic activities on campus and of excessively promoting liberal ideas.

On April 11, the administration sent a letter to Harvard demanding sweeping changes in campus protests, academic policies, and admission procedures. The letter called for steps such as auditing the views of students and faculty, implementing “merit-based” admission and hiring policies, and shutting down diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Here are some of the key details:

• Harvard rejected the demands on April 14, immediately after which the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in research funding.
• Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in May, announced that Harvard would no longer be eligible for new funding
• Soon after the announcement, the administration began canceling contracts with Harvard.
• Judge Burroughs said that the Trump administration fabricated a “false narrative” by citing antisemitic activities as a pretext to unlawfully block research funding.
• The judge stated that the government wrongfully withheld Harvard’s funding under the guise of antisemitism and failed to follow the rule of law.
• The judge ordered that all of Harvard’s funding be restored and that no such cuts be made in the future that would violate Harvard’s rights.

Harvard’s Response

Harvard President Alan Garber reiterated the university’s commitment to fighting antisemitism but said that no government can force a private university to decide what it teaches, whom it admits or hires, or which areas it researches. White House spokesperson Liz Huston denounced Judge Burroughs as an “Obama-appointed activist judge” and criticized the ruling, saying the government would appeal immediately.