Harvard University appeared before a federal judge on Monday, July 21, 2025, seeking reversal of what it says is an unlawful decision by the Trump administration to withhold $2.6 billion in federal funding. At the core of the lawsuit is Harvard’s claim that the funding cuts amount to political retaliation, following the university’s refusal to meet demands made by a federal antisemitism task force earlier this year.

According to court filings, the dispute began in April, when the antisemitism task force sent a letter to Harvard outlining a series of directives. University officials rejected some of the proposed measures, contending they interfered with academic governance. The administration’s decision to cut funding, Harvard argues, followed shortly thereafter, raising concerns within the university about possible retaliatory motives.

The case is being heard by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston. During proceedings, Harvard‘s legal representatives underscored the scale and suddenness of the cuts, explaining that they strike at the heart of the university’s federally funded research ecosystem. While Harvard maintains the largest academic endowment in the country—valued at approximately $53 billion—university officials said they have been forced to redirect internal resources to sustain critical projects, and warned that the measure is not financially sustainable in the long term.

“If maintained, these cuts will disrupt research across dozens of academic departments and compromise the work of hundreds of scientists,” a university spokesperson said outside the courthouse. “We are doing what we can to keep vital programs afloat, but the loss of federal support at this level is unprecedented.”

Harvard’s attorneys argue that the administration exceeded its legal authority by implementing budget penalties that were not authorized by Congress, and claim the cuts violate constitutional protections. Government attorneys have not commented publicly, but in filings leading up to the hearing, they defended the funding decision as part of broader compliance enforcement tied to anti-discrimination standards.

The potential implications extend beyond Harvard’s campus. Legal analysts say the outcome could affect how federal agencies enforce conditions tied to education funding in politically sensitive contexts. Judge Burroughs has not indicated when she plans to issue a ruling.