Judge Says Trump’s $2.2 Billion Harvard Funding Freeze Was Illegal

Topline

The Trump administration’s temporary freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University was unconstitutional, a judge ruled Wednesday, arguing in favor of the university as it challenges antisemitism allegations and denies a list of demands from the Trump administration made in response to pro-Palestinian protests held on campus last year.

Key Facts

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said in her order Harvard tolerated hateful behavior but the federal government “used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities” that violated the First Amendment.

Burroughs has ordered the Trump administration to restore the funding, which is made up of $2.2 billion in multi-year grants.

The Trump administration is expected to appeal.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/09/03/trump-administrations-22-billion-harvard-funding-freeze-ruled-unconstitutional/