WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Harvard University filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking to prevent President Donald Trump’s administration from withholding billions of dollars in federal research funding. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, is an illegal and politically motivated attempt to undermine its academic independence.
According to the lawsuit, the Trump administration withheld $2.3 billion and imposed a series of demands — including a ban on diversity programs and mask-wearing among students — after Harvard refused to cooperate. The university argues that the decision violates its First Amendment rights and constitutes an arbitrary abuse of federal power.
“This case concerns the government’s attempt to exert pressure by withholding federal funding in order to gain influence over academic decisions at Harvard,” the lawsuit states.
The move comes as part of a broader review of $9 billion in federal funding directed at Harvard, launched after Trump accused leading universities of fomenting anti-Semitism amid pro-Palestinian protests. Critics, including Jewish student groups, say criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza is being misinterpreted as hate speech.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields defended the administration’s actions, calling the federal aid a “privilege” and accusing Harvard of failing to meet basic requirements.
Harvard President Alan Garber countered that the university remains committed to fighting discrimination and accused the government of overstepping its authority: “Instead of working with Harvard to combat anti-Semitism, as the law requires, the government is trying to dictate who we hire and what we teach.”
Harvard is the first university to file a lawsuit over the funding freeze. Harvard and Columbia professors have also filed separate lawsuits, while other institutions, including Princeton, Cornell, and Northwestern, have also been hit by similar funding cuts.
The lawsuit is directed at several federal agencies, including the Departments of Health, Energy, and Education. The institutions have not yet responded.
