Trump illegally cuts more than $2 billion in Harvard funds, U.S. judge says

U.S. judge in Boston on Wednesday blocked Trump administration Attempts to terminate approximately $2.2 billion in federal research funding for Harvard University mark a major victory for the country’s oldest university, which has been in the midst of federal funding for several months compared to Trump officials.

U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs rejected the Trump administration’s assertion that it attempted to deprive Harvard of federal funds because of the allegations of anti-Semitism or the university failed to comply with the advice of the federal anti-Semitism task force.

“The review of administrative records has allowed the targeted ideologically motivated smoke screens besides the defendants’ use of anti-Semitism as a smoke screen,” Burroughs said in his decision on page 84.

Harvard president says he has “no choice” but fights the Trump administration

“We must fight anti-Semitism, but we also need to protect our rights, including the right to freedom of speech, and the goal does not need to be sacrificed on the other party’s altar,” she said under the order.

She added: “Even if it is belated, Harvard has taken steps to take to fight anti-Semitism and seems willing to do more when needed.”

Burroughs’ decision was a major victory for the university. Harvard lawyers a few months later Prosecuting the Trump administration In April, the government attempted to freeze more than $2.2 billion in federal funds and block other grants, and the university argued in court that the attorney involved an unconstitutional “pressure campaign” to influence and control over its academic programs.

The Trump administration accused Harvard of “promoting violence, anti-Semitism and coordination with the Chinese Communist Party on campus.”

Ongoing court struggles could put Harvard inseparable position with Trump

Harvard Bennus hangs outside the memorial church on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Michael Fein/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Trump administration lawyers also told Blaus that they had the “all right” to cancel funds after Harvard refused to comply with the federal anti-Semitism task force, and they tried to be held in court as a contract issue and heard in another court.

Both Ministry of Justice Harvard attorneys asked Obama-appointed Borros to decide the case by passing a summary judgment before early September, a timeline that allowed them to avoid lengthy trials before the start of the new school year.

Judge vs Trump: This is the main court struggle to stop the White House agenda

Protesters gather outside the Mockley Federal Court building, and Harvard appears to challenge the Trump administration to cut $2.6 billion in Boston on Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Burroughs ordered both to file a lengthy debate with the court in July and ended the hearing, saying she would issue a ruling after she had enough time to weigh the matters raised in the court.

Wednesday’s ruling was a victory in Harvard’s months-long legal battle with the Trump administration.

“In a no surprise incident turn, the same Obama-appointed judge ruled that the illegal race-based admission practice that favored Harvard (eventually overturned by the Supreme Court) had just ruled on the efforts to be held accountable for Harvard’s ongoing discrimination on campuses,” Madi Biedermann, a senior communications official at the Department of Education, told Fox News in a statement. “Cleaning out universities in our country will be a long road, but it’s worth it.”

Since Trump took office in January, the Trump administration has launched an investigation into Harvard against Harvard, which prompted university lawyers to argue that this year’s efforts are nothing more than a pressure campaign aimed at forcing them to comply with government policies.

Click here to get the Fox News app

Harvard is the only university to file a court on these efforts so far.