Federal Court Orders Trump to Restore $2.2 Billion in Harvard Grants

A federal court in Boston has ruled that the Trump administration illegally canceled approximately $2.2 billion in grants designated for Harvard University. The court"s decision prohibits any further cessation of funding for research at the prestigious institution.

The White House, under Donald Trump, had accused Harvard of inadequately addressing anti-Semitism on its campus, which led to the abrupt cancellation of hundreds of research grants. The administration"s actions also included attempts to ban foreign students from enrolling and threats to revoke the university"s accreditation.

In a statement made at the end of August, Trump demanded that Harvard pay "at least $500 million" to restore federal funding, urging Education Secretary Linda McMahon not to negotiate with the university, which he claimed had "behaved very badly."

This ruling marks a significant legal setback for the former president, emphasizing the importance of federal funding in supporting academic research and higher education institutions. As previously reported, similar situations have raised concerns over the administration"s attempts to leverage funding for political ends.