What to Know About Harvard's Legal Battles With Trump
Harvard University has sued the Trump administration to preserve its ability to enroll international students and restore draconian cuts in research money, two matters that threaten the core functions of the centuries-old institution.
The same federal judge in Massachusetts, Allison D. Burroughs, an appointee of President Barack Obama, is presiding over both cases. She has often sided with Harvard, including on June 5 when she issued a temporary restraining order against the administration's latest move to bar international students.
On both fronts, the Trump administration has said that it is punishing Harvard because it has failed to keep Jewish students safe by allowing antisemitism to flourish. It has added on to these accusations as the court fights have drawn on, saying that the university has used racial preferences in admissions in defiance of a Supreme Court ruling and that it has broken rules related to foreign gifts.
Harvard has denied the accusations. It says the administration is ignoring its efforts to protect the civil rights of its Jewish students, for example. And Harvard has argued that the federal government has violated its First Amendment rights and has ignored due process as it pursues its vendetta against the university.
Here's what to know about the two court battles.
One lawsuit is focused on international students.
In May, the Trump administration said that it would halt Harvard's ability to enroll international students, an announcement that prompted fear across higher education. Current students must transfer or lose their legal status, Kristi Noem, the U.S. homeland security secretary, wrote in a letter to the university.
About 5,000 international students are currently enrolled at Harvard, and an additional 2,000 recent graduates are in the United States on visas permitting them to remain temporarily after graduation to work.
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Continued court fights could put Harvard in unwinnable position vs Trump
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On June 12, 2024, a day when Joe Biden was still president, running for reelection, and had every expectation of serving a second term, the U.S. Army filed a permit in the hopes of celebrating its 250th birthday on the National Mall the following year. The event would involve as many as 300 soldiers and civilian personnel. There would be a concert by the U.S. Army Band. Four cannons would be fired. Some 120 chairs would be set up. All told, it would be a fairly modest affair, another event on a summer's day on the national lawn, a few weeks before Fourth of July festivities would bring a much grander display. Then President Donald Trump was elected — and plans for the day changed dramatically. More than two dozen tanks will now roll through the city, and 50 helicopters will fly overhead. Thousands of troops, many in period costume from past wars, will participate, and several musical acts will perform. 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The White House green-lit nearly all of the ideas, and Trump added some of his own. 'The president has requested aircraft and other military equipment to fully capture the might of our American military,' said a White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to provide detail on the planning. The official said that ever since Trump won in November, the plan was for a military parade to mark the Army's anniversary. George, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, has undertaken the project enthusiastically, Butler said. 'We're treating it like any other operation, combat or otherwise,' Butler said, indicating that considerations must be paid to make sure the event has appropriate safety precautions and logistical support. Two Army officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said in separate interviews that the service is aware of the connection that some critics have made to Trump's birthday — and disappointed by it. One of the officials said that early in the planning process at the White House, an Army official noted that the parade would occur on Trump's birthday. But service officials left that meeting with the impression that Trump actually did not want his birthday highlighted, the Army official said. Army officials said there were no plans to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Trump or officially acknowledge his birthday during the parade. 'Never been brought up and not part of the plan,' said Col. Chris Vitale, the officer overseeing the parade and other celebrations related to the Army's 250th. Trump, speaking on NBC's 'Meet the Press' last month, said that the event is 'not for my birthday' but that there would be a 'big, beautiful parade' to celebrate the military. Doing so, he said, would cost 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' 'We have the greatest missiles in the world,' Trump said. 'We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest Army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it.' The Army's suggestion to hold a national event to mark its birthday coincided with the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth firing senior military officers early in the administration, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the top officers in the Navy and Coast Guard. Unofficial lists of other military leaders who could be fired circulated widely on Capitol Hill, with little clarity whom Trump might target. Butler, George's spokesman, rejected any suggestion that the Army's embrace of a military parade had anything to do with that. 'We're on the record: No one was pitching a national event to save their job,' Butler said. The celebration has continued to grow over recent months. It now is expected to include 28 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker combat vehicles, 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, an array of other vehicles and 6,700 soldiers from across the country. The estimated cost is about $45 million, Army officials have said — a flash point as the service cuts programs to fund new Trump priorities. The Army has vowed to foot the bill for any damage to city streets, with local officials particularly worried they'll be chewed up by tanks. Reagan National Airport will halt takeoffs and landings for up to several hours, and waterways on the Potomac will be closed. The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue between 15th and 23rd streets. On Friday, preparations were underway for the event. Crews along Constitution Avenue NW worked on what looked like a platform just south of the White House. A stage was under construction just off the Ellipse, the federally controlled park south of the White House. It remains unclear how organizers are planning to build a crowd for the event. Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith said they were using their website, social media, media coverage and partnerships with sports teams to drum up awareness. 'We've focused on the four-hour radius around D.C. That is really where we are marketing,' Smith said, adding that participating Army units around the country are spreading the word in their own communities. She said the Army is also 'partnering with third-party influencers,' but she was unable to provide a list of names because the computer system was down. Recruitment ads have also popped up on the D.C. Metro saying: 'Explore 250+ Army careers. Meet us June 14th on The National Mall.' Destination DC, the city's main tourism organization, published an online FAQ guide to the 250th celebration. Tucked among guidance on Metro station closures, scheduling logistics and ticket information is the question, 'Is this a political event?' The response: 'No. The celebration is focused on the Army's 250 years of service to the country — not on politics. The day honors Soldiers past and present and highlights the Army's role in American history.' 'President Trump is looking forward to celebrating the U.S. Army's birthday as part of the year-long celebration for America's 250th anniversary,' said Anna Kelly, White House deputy press secretary. 'This parade will honor all of the military men and women who have bravely served our country, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom.' While officials have downplayed Trump's birthday, the president is expected to be at the center of attention. The Golden Knights are planning to parachute onto the Ellipse and present an American flag to the president. Trump will also enlist and reenlist 250 recruits and soldiers. Federal workers have been told to work remotely so that soldiers can sleep in their offices downtown. Flights will be delayed and streets blocked. There may be frustration in the air in some corners, but the tanks will soon be on their way. Dan Merica contributed to this report.
