Harvard leads battle as over 100 US universities unite against Trump govt

A political storm is intensifying across the United States as more than 100 universities and colleges, including prestigious Ivy League institutions, unite in opposition to the Trump Administration's recent moves targeting higher education and international students.

These academic institutions have issued a forceful rebuke of what they describe as President Donald Trump’s “political interference” in America’s education system.

Their coordinated response comes just one day after Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the administration, challenging efforts to slash federal funding and impose direct political oversight.

In a joint statement, the institutions condemned what they described as an attack on academic freedom: "We speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education. We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion.”

The letter further asserted, “We must reject the coercive use of public research funding.”

President Trump has justified his actions by accusing colleges and universities of allowing “anti-Semitic” behavior to flourish on campus, particularly during pro-Palestinian demonstrations in response to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

He has also accused these institutions of promoting “woke” ideologies and fostering division through diversity initiatives—policies his administration has now dismantled.

In response, the Trump administration has launched a sweeping campaign against educational institutions, threatening drastic funding cuts, revocation of tax-exempt status, restrictions on foreign student enrollment, and stringent audits.

Harvard, in particular, has been labeled a “political entity” by the administration and has faced escalating pressure to conform to new federal mandates, including controversial changes to faculty hiring practices.

Amid this political siege, the united voice of academia is growing louder.

The coalition emphasized that universities must remain spaces for open discourse: “Faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.”

Parallel to the crackdown on campus policies, the Trump administration has intensified its immigration enforcement, disproportionately affecting international students.

Reports have emerged of student visas being revoked with minimal justification.

The White House has defended these measures, citing widespread anti-Israel protests on campuses as grounds for concern over rising anti-Semitism.

Officials have also claimed that elite academic institutions have become overly aligned with leftist ideologies.

While many top universities, facing financial uncertainty, have reluctantly complied with federal directives, Harvard has chosen a different path.

The university is challenging the administration in court, risking billions in federal support to defend its autonomy.

"This case involves the government's efforts to use the withholding of federal funding as leverage to gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard," the university said in its legal filing in Massachusetts federal court.

Harvard further argued that the administration's actions are both unconstitutional and unlawful: "The government's actions flout not just the First Amendment but also federal laws and regulations."

Last week, the administration froze $2.2 billion in funding earmarked for the institution.

The Department of Homeland Security also issued a stark warning: unless Harvard provides detailed records on international students’ supposed “illegal and violent activities,” it could lose the ability to enroll foreign students.

Foreign students currently represent over 27% of Harvard’s student body, according to the university's most recent academic data.