On Monday (July 21), the federal judge raised serious concerns about Trump’s decision to reject more than $ 2 billion to finance research at Harvard University and questioned whether this step violated constitutional protection.
“There are limits of what you can end and why and how,” said US district judge Allison Burroughs during hearing in Boston. “It seems to be your idea that you can terminate the contract, although the basis for ending is a constitutional violation.”
Judge Burroughs ceased to make formal decisions, but signaled skepticism against the freezing of the financing of the government.
The department of justice defends the decision
The lawyers of the Ministry of Justice claimed that Harvard was unable to adequately address anti -Semitism on the campus, especially after the outbreak of war in Israel Hamas in October 2023. They said that the inactivity of the University violated the policy of Trump’s administration aimed at fighting anti -Semitism.
“Harvard was supposed to read a small press,” said lawyer Michael Velchik, who claimed that the administration had the right to end grants when the institution does not match federal priorities.
Trump’s administration targeted at Harvard
Froaching of funding is part of President Donald Trump’s wider pressure to transform university education. His administration focused on Harvard on what she called political bias, resistance to diversity and alleged tolerance of anti -Semitism.
The government also threatened Harvard’s status exempt from tax and tried to prevent foreign students from registration, according to court filing.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields issued a statement on Monday: “We are convinced that Harvard eventually will come and support the president’s vision and through interviews and negotiations in good faith is more than possible.”
Harvard and professors are fighting
Harvard and a group of professors filed a lawsuit in April and questioned the legality and constitutionality of freezing funding. Their lawyers asked the judge to resolve the matter without a complete court and seek a summary judgment.
She claims that Trump’s administration retained against the university for refusing to assign control of the academic administration and free expression of students and faculties.
The judge emphasizes the irony in the government
Burroughs, who revealed during the hearing that he was Jewish, criticized the government’s justification.
“In some respects, you justify the behavior of the Jews protection and adhere to US values, but on the other hand, you are taking steps that are contradictory to these things,” she said.
Burroughs said it has not yet decided whether to release frozen funds. The case could be determined by a precedent for the extent to which federal financing can be used as a leverage against academic institutions.
(Tagstotranslate) district judge of US Allison Burroughs
