The conflict between U.S. President Donald Trump and major American universities, including Harvard University, is escalating into an unprecedented constitutional dispute.
According to the Associated Press on the 23rd (local time), Harvard University filed a lawsuit in Boston federal court on the 22nd against the Trump administration's freeze of $2.2 billion (approximately 3.15 trillion won) in federal research funding. This is an unprecedented situation where a top U.S. university is directly confronting the government over the autonomy of higher education and the extent of governmental oversight.
This clash began as the Trump administration demanded extensive reforms from Harvard University, including ▲ the elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs ▲ external audits to check for 'diversity of viewpoints' ▲ the dissolution of pro-Palestinian student groups.
Harvard strongly protested that these demands constitute 'unjust political interference that violates university autonomy.'
Harvard President Alan Garber stated on the university's website that 'American higher education has been determined by scholars rather than the government regarding what to research and teach,' and he noted that 'the actions of the Trump administration represent an unprecedented act that severely threatens our university's educational mission and academic freedom.'
Garber added, 'Federal funds should be allocated based on academic excellence, not political leverage.'
The situation is likely to worsen. In response to Harvard's backlash, the Trump administration has indicated it is considering freezing an additional $1 billion (approximately 1.43 trillion won) in research funding beyond the initial $2.2 billion. According to major U.S. media outlets, it is also being reported that the government is considering revoking the tax-exempt status enjoyed by major universities, including Harvard, and limiting the issuance of visas for international students.
Garber said in a statement, 'We have a moral responsibility to fight hate while fulfilling our legal obligations,' and 'Harvard has always encouraged constructive discourse and critical thinking, which are the core values of American higher education.'
Experts predict that if these actions continue, they will cause extensive harm not only to Harvard but also to major Ivy League schools such as Princeton, Brown, and Northwestern, as well as key research universities.
On the 22nd, presidents of 150 universities in the U.S. issued a joint statement criticizing 'unprecedented government overreach and political interference.' They emphasized the need to uphold academic freedom and university autonomy.
Experts expect that this lawsuit will set a crucial precedent for reevaluating the scope of 'freedom of expression' and 'academic freedom' guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A look at U.S. history shows that clashes between universities and the government have occurred at various times. During the McCarthyism era in the 1950s, prestigious universities like Harvard and Columbia actively opposed the government's efforts to identify communists on campus. Many professors at universities, not just Harvard, were either dismissed or resigned during that time.
During the 1960s and 1970s, extreme cases like the Kent State University incident occurred, where the government (National Guard) shot students protesting against the Vietnam War. Such incidents led to nationwide campus protests.
Since the Trump administration came to power in 2017, conflicts between universities and the government have intensified. When the Trump administration announced its immigration ban during its first term, Harvard, Stanford, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) immediately took legal action. In 2019-2020, as the administration attempted to revoke visas from international students attending online classes during the pandemic (DAEYU), Harvard and MIT jointly sued the government.
However, this funding dispute is difficult to find precedents due to the scale of $2.2 billion. The government's direct attempt to intervene in core areas of university autonomy, such as hiring research faculty and managing departments, also distinguishes it from past conflicts.
CNN reported that the simultaneous joint statement by presidents of over 150 universities in the U.S. is a rare phenomenon in the history of American higher education.
Garber stated in a message to members, 'Attempts by the government to impose specific ideological perspectives or restrict academic inquiry violate the founding principles of America.'
A representative of the Trump administration said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that 'the White House is open to dialogue, but Harvard needs serious changes' and maintained a tough stance.