US Justice Barra Trump Cortes and guarantees billions in funding for Harvard

A historic decision of the US justice imposed defeat on the government of President Donald Trump (Republican) in his dispute with Harvard University. On Wednesday (3), federal judge Allison Burroughs, Boston, considered illegal to cancel about $ 2.2 billion in research subsidies of the institution and determined the immediate restoration of resources.

The magistrate prohibited the government from ending or freezing any additional financing and blocked refusal to grant new university subsidies in the future. According to her, the White House measure configured political retaliation and violated the rights of freedom of expression of the university, guaranteed by the first amendment of the Constitution.

The reactive decision hundreds of cut -up research projects, although experts warn that the government can still delay transfers while resorting. Researchers fear prolonged impacts on the scientific production of the institution.

“Smoke Curtain”

In the 84 -page decision, Burroughs accused the Trump administration of using anti -Semitism as a justification for attacking Harvard and other elite universities considered hostile to the government agenda.

“The country must combat anti -Semitism, but should also protect the right to freedom of expression,” wrote the judge.

The White House had argued that the cuts were due to Harvard’s alleged failure to combat harassment to Jewish students. For the judge, however, research subsidies funded by the government “had little or no relation to the allegations of discrimination” in the campus.

Immediate reactions

White House spokeswoman Liz Huston has classified the decision as “outrageous” and announced that the government will appeal. “Harvard has no constitutional right to dollars of taxpayers and remains ineligible for subsidies in the future,” he said.

Harvard’s interim president Alan Garber said in a statement that the decision represents a victory for academic freedom:

“The decision affirms Harvard’s rights under the first amendment and validates the importance of critical scientific research and the fundamental principles of US higher education.”

Prolonged dispute

The confrontation between Harvard and Trump intensified in April, when the university rejected government demands to reformulate its governance, hiring and academic programs. A few hours later, the Department of Education suspended billions in federal subsidies. Harvard responded with a lawsuit, accusing the White House of ideological persecution.

The government even considered conditioning the resumption of funds to pay $ 500 million by the university in a possible agreement, but negotiations did not advance.

For analysts, the case symbolizes the broader dispute between Trump administration and elite universities, seen by the government as liberal strongholds. Burroughs’ decision, however, sends a clear message: public funding cannot be used as a political weapon against academic institutions.