CaliToday (04/9/2025): In a significant legal rebuke to the executive branch, a U.S. federal judge today ruled that President Donald Trump's decision to cancel $2.2 billion in federal research grants allocated to Harvard University was illegal and constituted an overreach of presidential authority.
The ruling, issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, found that the administration's abrupt termination of the funds violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The court determined that the action was "arbitrary and capricious" and failed to follow established legal processes for altering or rescinding congressionally appropriated funds.
The dispute began earlier this year when the Trump administration announced the immediate cancellation of a wide portfolio of grants designated for Harvard. The funding, valued at approximately $2.2 billion over several years, supported hundreds of research projects across various fields, including medicine, public health, climate science, and technology. The administration had justified the move by citing a need to redirect federal funds and scrutinize grants given to institutions it claimed were not aligned with its policy priorities.
In his written opinion, the presiding judge stated that while the executive branch has discretion in how funds are managed, it cannot unilaterally and retroactively cancel legally binding grant agreements without a clear and lawful cause. "Congress holds the power of the purse," the judge wrote. "To allow the executive to nullify these appropriations based on shifting political winds would undermine the separation of powers and disrupt critical scientific and academic endeavors."
Harvard University, which filed the lawsuit shortly after the administration's announcement, hailed the decision as a crucial victory for academic freedom and the rule of law.
"We are gratified by the court's thoughtful and decisive ruling," a spokesperson for Harvard said in a statement. "This decision reaffirms the principle that scientific research should be guided by merit and peer review, not political interference. These funds are vital for advancing knowledge that benefits our nation and the world."
The ruling effectively orders the administration to release the withheld funds and reinstate the grant programs. However, legal experts suggest the Department of Justice, on behalf of the administration, is likely to appeal the decision, potentially escalating the legal battle to a higher court. The immediate next steps from the White House are yet to be announced.
