Harvard’s success as the first and only US university to sue the Trump Administration over blocked funding has not yet unlocked a restitution of the billions withheld from the university.
Following the ruling in a Massachusetts Federal District Court that the Trump Administration did not have the power to terminate $2.6 billion in grants and contracts provided by the Federal Government to Harvard, there has been no rush to turn the money tap back on.
While the case was being heard, President Trump’s team allegedly were seeking to negotiate a settlement, with the President reportedly saying he wanted “nothing less than $500 million from Harvard” in return for restoring the Federal funding. Harvard denies that any negotiation is underway.
The ruling from US District Judge Allison Burroughs praised the Trump Administration for fighting antisemitism found that the University ‘was wrong to tolerate hateful behaviour for as long as it did.” However the President did not have the legal authority to terminate funding – infringing on the institution’s First Amendment rights.
The President continues to pressure Harvard to restrict campus protest and void diversity equity and inclusion policies, as well as a raft of other changes in line with the administration’s doctrine – including accepting new students and hiring new staff that provide what Trump’s team refer to as ‘viewpoint diversity.’