Harvard Sues Key Trump Administration Departments in Court
Requests Halt to Unfair Suspension of Federal Funding
Harvard University, which has been in ongoing conflict with U.S. President Donald Trump, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for freezing federal subsidies worth about 3 trillion won. The university argues that the government's actions not only failed to follow proper procedures, but also seriously threaten university autonomy.
Since last month, Harvard University, which has been in conflict with U.S. President Donald Trump, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for freezing federal subsidies worth about 3 trillion won. The university argues that the government's action not only failed to follow proper procedures but also seriously threatens university autonomy. AFP·Yonhap News
On April 21 (local time), local media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Harvard University President Alan Garber issued a statement announcing that a 51-page complaint had been submitted to the federal court in Massachusetts. The university requested the court to halt the Trump administration's unfair subsidy cuts and payment suspensions. President Garber stated, "Last week, the federal government took several actions after Harvard refused to comply with illegal demands," adding, "Because these actions exceed the government's authority and are unlawful, we have filed a lawsuit to stop the suspension of funding."
Additionally, President Garber appealed to the court to confirm that the Trump administration's actions are illegal. The complaint lists various federal agencies as defendants, including the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Department of Energy, and the General Services Administration (GSA). Harvard University claims in the complaint that the Trump administration suspended funding allocated to Harvard in order to impose government control over academic programs.
In his statement, Garber emphasized that the freezing of research grants and other support would have serious and tangible consequences for patients, students, faculty, staff, and researchers, as well as for the standing of American higher education. He further warned, "The consequences of the government's abuse of power will be severe and long-lasting." Previously, faculty at Harvard and Columbia University had filed lawsuits regarding the Trump administration's suspension of subsidies. However, this is the first time the university itself has filed a complaint.
What are the key issues in the conflict between the Trump administration and U.S. universities that escalated in February?
The conflict between U.S. President Donald Trump and American universities began in earnest in February. Since his first term, Trump has followed a pro-Israel policy and raised concerns about the anti-Israel protests that took place on American campuses last year. In response, the Trump administration formed a task force (TF) in February to monitor 10 universities, including Harvard, where anti-Israel and anti-Jewish protests occurred.
The conflict between U.S. President Donald Trump and American universities began in earnest in February. Since his first term, Trump has followed a pro-Israel policy and raised concerns about the anti-Israel protests that occurred on American campuses last year. In response, the Trump administration formed a task force (TF) in February to monitor 10 universities, including Harvard, where anti-Israel and anti-Jewish protests took place. Getty Images Getty Images Yonhap News Agency
Subsequently, on April 3 and 11, the Trump administration sent letters to Harvard University demanding the abolition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, as well as revisions to admissions and faculty hiring regulations, warning that failure to comply would result in cuts to federal funding. U.S. universities protested, arguing that the Trump administration's similar pressure on institutions beyond Harvard violated the First Amendment (freedom of expression) and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Title VI stipulates that no American can be excluded from federally funded activities on the basis of race, national origin, or gender.
On April 14, President Garber announced that Harvard would reject the Trump administration's demands. On the same day, the Trump administration's task force issued a statement declaring that it would suspend the payment of $2.2 billion (about 3.1363 trillion won) in subsidies to Harvard and halt government contracts worth $60 million (85 billion won). Furthermore, the Trump administration signaled even harsher retaliatory measures, including the revocation of Harvard's tax-exempt status and the potential cancellation of visas for international students.
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