Donald Trump has announced he is seeking $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, escalating a long-running dispute between his administration and the Ivy League institution. The move follows negotiations over a prior $200 million demand, which the administration reportedly abandoned during talks with the university.
Trump cited a New York Times report on the negotiation in a Truth Social post, accusing Harvard of “feeding a lot of nonsense” to the media. He did not provide details on how Harvard allegedly broke the law but called the university’s actions “serious and heinous illegalities.”
Background: Funding Dispute and Campus Controversy-The legal battle stems from accusations by Trump officials that Harvard failed to adequately address antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests. Harvard has rejected these claims, calling them baseless.
In April 2024, Trump revoked approximately $2 billion in research grants to Harvard and froze federal funding, targeting the university as part of a broader campaign against what the White House labels “woke” and “radical left” ideologies on American campuses. Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit, asserting that the government cannot dictate what private universities teach, whom they hire or admit, or which areas of study they pursue.
A federal court later overturned the funding cuts, ruling that the administration had violated Harvard’s free speech rights. The White House immediately vowed to challenge the decision, maintaining that Harvard remained ineligible for federal grants.
Before Monday’s announcement, federal officials and Harvard had been in ongoing negotiations to unfreeze funding. Trump’s new post declared:
“We are now seeking One Billion Dollars in damages, and want nothing further to do, into the future, with Harvard University.”
The administration has previously threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and take control of patents from federally funded research, though it remains unclear if these steps will proceed.
Unlike Harvard, Columbia, Penn, and Brown universities reached agreements with the administration to preserve their funding, avoiding court battles. Harvard has so far refused to settle, setting the stage for a high-profile lawsuit.
Broader Implications-This lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and elite US universities. Legal experts note that a billion-dollar damages claim is unprecedented and could set a new standard for how the government interacts with private educational institutions.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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