A US federal court judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s partial freeze on federal funding to Harvard University was unlawful and must be lifted.
President Donald Trump has been putting pressure on universities that hosted large anti-Israel protests or that promote diversity and inclusion programmes. His administration has used funding cuts and other tactics to enforce its policies.
Harvard, America’s oldest university, is known for producing many leading academics, politicians, and business figures.
Back in April, Harvard took the administration to court in Massachusetts, arguing that the funding freeze on its research was illegal and should be overturned.
On Wednesday, Judge Allison Burroughs decided that the government’s demands for changes to Harvard’s staff and admissions process had little to do with concerns about antisemitism. Instead, they were linked closely to the administration’s political motives and desire for control.
The court ordered the freeze on over $2 billion in federal grants to Harvard to be reversed. However, the White House said it plans to appeal straight away.
The ruling is a major legal victory for Harvard as it seeks to cut a deal that could end the White House’s far-reaching conflict with the university.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
