Harvard University filed an amended lawsuit on Tuesday in Cambridge, Massachusetts, seeking to add two more federal agencies to its ongoing legal battle with the Trump administration. The lawsuit now targets the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, amidst escalating government actions that could affect more than $2.6 billion in federal funding along with future grants.
The amended complaint came shortly after the government announced an additional $450 million cut to the university’s funding. Harvard asserts that these actions violate its First Amendment rights and federal legal protocols. The university contends that the funding reductions are retaliatory measures stemming from its refusal to comply with government demands and, now, as a response to its lawsuit.
Since Harvard first initiated legal proceedings on April 22, the Trump administration’s response has intensified. A letter from Secretary of Education Linda MacMahon on May 5 indicated that the government would cease awarding grants to the university. Following this, documentation disclosed in conjunction with the amended complaint revealed that seven federal agencies informed Harvard of their intent to terminate grant funding.
Hours after MacMahon’s letter, the National Institutes of Health notified Harvard of the termination of its federal funding, claiming the university’s research no longer met the agency’s standards for public benefit. Four days later, the Department of Agriculture issued a similar notice, alleging that the university was promoting antisemitism.
On the following Monday, additional letters from the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, HUD, and the National Science Foundation communicated funding cuts to Harvard. The Department of Education also issued individual notices regarding grant terminations on that same day.
The revised lawsuit expands Harvard’s claims, addressing not only the suspension of contracts but also their outright termination by multiple federal agencies. All letters from these agencies cited concerns regarding Harvard’s response to antisemitism. However, the university’s legal team argues that the government did not adhere to the enforcement procedures outlined in the Title VI Civil Rights Act and failed to substantiate any actual violations of the law.
Harvard’s legal filings describe the letters as part of a coordinated effort by the Trump administration to exploit federal funding as a means to undermine the university’s constitutionally protected academic freedom. Additionally, the lawsuit contends that Harvard had no chance to address the allegations before being effectively “blacklisted” from receiving future grants.
The government’s legal approach has left Harvard’s lawyers questioning the rationale behind linking antisemitism concerns with the frozen or terminated funding for various research initiatives. They argue the government has not—and cannot—provide a logical connection between these concerns and the university’s scientific endeavors.
The amended lawsuit also points to President Donald Trump’s public threats to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status on social media, suggesting a punitive motive aimed at the university for defending its constitutional rights.
Despite the multiple funding cuts outlined in the legal documents, the amended complaint does not seek immediate judicial relief such as a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of the funding freeze. A hearing for the case has been scheduled for July 21, following a federal judge’s decision to expedite the proceedings.
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