Professors at Harvard University have filed a lawsuit aimed at halting a federal review of nearly $9 billion in government grants and contracts awarded to the school, as the Trump administration investigates antisemitism on college campuses.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Boston, claims that the administration’s audit threatens academic freedom and free speech.
It was brought by the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the national organization.
The legal challenge comes amid a broader federal effort to investigate antisemitic incidents and rhetoric on college campuses, including those at elite universities.
The Trump administration has increased scrutiny of institutions receiving taxpayer funds, particularly where student protests or faculty conduct have raised concerns.
According to the AAUP, the audit violates constitutional protections and is intended to intimidate faculty and chill campus discourse.
The Department of Justice, which is representing the administration in the case, declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Hellbound and Down 