Harvard University is urgently seeking a federal court ruling to overturn a freeze on approximately $2.6 billion in federal funding imposed by the Trump administration, which the university argues is illegal and infringes on its rights.

In its court filing, Harvard contends that the government has not provided adequate evidence to justify the funding freeze, which was purportedly aimed at addressing antisemitism and perceived liberal bias on campus.

The university claims that the federal government has issued an unconstitutional ultimatum, threatening to cut funding unless Harvard complies with specific political demands.

Harvard's legal team asserts that the White House directly influenced the funding cuts, with termination letters reviewed by administration officials, which led to arbitrary deadlines imposed on federal agencies.

Harvard's vice provost for research warned that the funding cuts would disrupt vital research projects, leading to degradation of sensitive equipment and perishable samples.

The funding freeze has impacted over 950 research projects, including significant grants for pediatric HIV research, biological threat awareness, and dark energy studies, with potential negative repercussions for ongoing cancer and infectious disease research.

Since mid-April, Harvard has received numerous orders to freeze funding for critical research areas, including national security and health-related studies, after rejecting a list of demands from the White House.

Harvard argues that these actions represent a coordinated attack on academic freedom, emphasizing that the government has not acknowledged its efforts to address antisemitism on campus.

Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for late July, with further filings expected in the coming month, as Harvard seeks to prevent permanent harm to its ongoing research.

With approximately 27% of its student body being international, Harvard emphasizes that the ability to admit foreign students is critical to its operations and diversity.

Harvard and other educational institutions assert that the Trump administration's actions pose significant threats to academic freedom and the viability of these universities.

The court filing claims that the funding terminations were executed hastily and uniformly across federal agencies, indicating a lack of proper investigation into the claims of antisemitism before the funding withdrawal.