Harvard, Trump Administration Clash in Key Court Hearing – WSJ

BOSTON Harvard s battle with the Trump administration over the future of the university reached a crescendo Monday in a federal courtroom here, as the Ivy League school argued the government had no basis to cut $2.2 billion of research funding.

What we re here for are our constitutional rights, Steven Lehotsky, an attorney for Harvard, told a federal judge.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, insisted it has the power to cancel contracts with universities that no longer align with government priorities, in this case because of its determination that Harvard has tolerated antisemitism on its campus.

If Harvard really cared about the importance of that research, they would address antisemitism, Michael Velchik, a Justice Department lawyer and Harvard graduate, argued in court.

The lawsuit Harvard filed against the administration in April to restore its funds is playing out alongside the many clashes between Trump and the university. In addition to canceling federal research grants, Trump has threatened Harvard s tax-exempt status, sought to remove its ability to enroll international students and probed its acceptance of foreign donations.

Harvard has said its eight-decade research partnership with the federal government serves a critical societal function, supporting cutting-edge medical research, advancing technology that takes Americans to space and fuels artificial intelligence, and improving military performance. 

via www.wsj.com