Justice Department Appeals Ruling Restoring $2.7 Billion to Harvard

The United States Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal on December 18, 2025, seeking to overturn a September ruling by U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs. The original ruling ordered the restoration of between $2 billion and $2.7 billion in federal research grants that the Donald Trump administration had terminated. Judge Burroughs found the funding freeze violated Harvard University's First Amendment rights and concluded the administration used concerns over campus antisemitism as a "smokescreen" for a "targeted, ideologically motivated assault" on elite universities.

While the administration has reinstated most of the funds, the appeal moves to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. The legal action is consolidated with a related case brought by the American Association of University Professors. Parallel to the litigation, the administration attempted to negotiate a settlement requiring Harvard to pay at least $500 million to establish a trade school for American plant workers, though no agreement was reached.

White House spokesperson Liz Huston defended the cuts, stating the university must be held accountable for failures to protect students from discrimination. Conversely, Harvard officials and the American Association of University Professors argue the government is attempting to chill academic speech and research. The government is also appealing a separate ruling that blocked efforts to bar international students from attending the university.