Overview

• Harvard asked U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs to grant summary judgment restoring roughly $2.5 billion in research grants, arguing the cuts violate its First Amendment and Title VI rights.
• Department of Justice lawyers urged that Harvard pursue its claims in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims under the Tucker Act, defending the administration’s right to condition grants on policy compliance.
• Judge Burroughs pressed the government on how it determined antisemitism justified canceling grants without clear procedures or specific evidence tied to the research projects.
• Harvard warned that over 950 scientific and medical initiatives, including studies on cancer, infectious diseases and national security, are jeopardized if the funds remain withheld.
• No ruling was issued at the hearing, and a written decision is pending that will define the balance between federal oversight and university autonomy.