'Severe and long lasting': Harvard takes Trump to court as feud escalates

Harvard University filed a lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration following weeks of presidential threats to slash billions of dollars in federal funding from the elite institution, The New York Times reported.

The legal challenge, filed in Massachusetts federal court, alleges the government let loose a broad attack as “leverage to gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard,” the Times said, adding that similar funding cuts to other major universities were also referenced in the suit.

It’s a major escalation of the bitter battle President Donald Trump created when he demanded Harvard comply with a sweeping set of demands in line with his MAGA agenda, which the university made clear it would not comply with. They included demands for oversight over admissions, hiring practices and other aspects of university life.

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Harvard president Alan M. Garber accused the government in a statement on Monday of trying to wield “unprecedented and improper control” over the university, according to the Times. He added that the consequences of the government’s actions would be “severe and long lasting.”

“The lawsuit names as defendants Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health and human services secretary; Linda M. McMahon, the education secretary; Stephen Ehikian, acting administrator of the General Services Administration; Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi; and several other administration officials,” the Times said.