The Trump administration filed an appeal this week of the U.S. District Court ruling that had restored $2.7 billion to Harvard in federal grants and contracts to fund the government’s research priorities.
Thursday’s long-anticipated filing came two days before the government’s deadline to file an appeal after a final judgment was entered in the court record. During the appeal window, Harvard received most of the funding it was owed for work performed on those grants and contracts.
In her September 3 ruling, Federal District Judge Allison D. Burroughs found that the government had violated Harvard’s First Amendment rights by withholding funding in retaliation for protected speech. She wrote that the administration had used charges of antisemitism to mount “an ideologically motivated assault” on universities.
Burroughs also ruled that the government, in withholding the funds, had not followed the procedures required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Trump administration, upon losing the case, immediately stated that it would appeal. The case will now go to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
In a statement on Friday, a University spokesperson said: “The federal district court ruled in Harvard’s favor in September, reinstating critical research funding that advances science and life-saving medical breakthroughs, strengthens national security, and enhances our nation’s competitiveness and economic priorities. We remain confident in our legal position.”
Harvard previously assembled a public brief summarizing what was at stake in the case for the University, as well as some of the nationwide ramifications.
There is no prescribed timeline for the appeal process, and the case will likely be scheduled sometime in the new year.
