Trump Administration Ordered To Unfreeze Federal Grant Money To Harvard

A federal judge in Boston has ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze nearly $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard University. On Wednesday (September 3), U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs granted in part Harvard’s motion regarding the freeze orders. The judge's order vacated all freezes and terminations of funding to Harvard made on or after April 14, 2025.

Judge Burroughs noted that while Harvard has faced issues related to antisemitism, there is little connection between these issues and the research affected by the grant terminations. In her ruling, she stated, "Defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities." The judge found that the administration's actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the First Amendment, and Title VI.

The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by Harvard against the Trump administration. The lawsuit came after the administration announced the freeze on more than $2 billion in grants, citing Harvard's refusal to comply with demands, including auditing the viewpoints of the student body.