Harvard University scored a win in its battle defending academic freedom against President Trump’s pressure campaign on Wednesday, when a Boston judge ruled the administration’s slashing of over $2 billion in funding earlier this year was unconstitutional.
But the federal funding battle is just one of several fronts on which Trump is trying to pressure Harvard, which his administration accuses of allowing antisemitism to fester on campus, and discriminating against men, white people, and Asians in hiring.
Additionally, the Trump administration said Wednesday that it will appeal US District Judge Allison D. Burroughs‘s ruling.
“To any fair-minded observer, it is clear that Harvard University failed to protect their students from harassment and allowed discrimination to plague their campus for years,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement to the Globe on Wednesday.
If and when an appeal is filed in the federal research funding case, it could next head to the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Multiple investigations into campus practices at Harvard hang in the balance while the university remains in negotiations with the Trump administration over the possibility of a $500 million settlement. After the ruling that Trump’s slashing of research grants was unconstitutional, it’s more unclear than ever whether Harvard will agree to a settlement.
Here’s a recap of the other measures the Trump administration has taken against Harvard, and how the school responded:
International student visas
International students who returned to school this week breathed a sigh of relief, after their status as part of the university’s community was for weeks in jeopardy earlier this year.
In May, the Trump administration moved to bar Harvard from enrolling international students, spiking anxiety for hundreds on campus. Harvard quickly sued the government, and days later a judge temporarily blocked Trump’s order.
In June, Trump escalated the efforts and imposed travel restrictions preventing people from entering the United States to study at Harvard. A judge then issued a preliminary injunction that allows international students to attend Harvard at least until its case against the administration is resolved. The government appealed the injunction, and the two sides remain locked in a lawsuit.
The State Department continues to investigate Harvard’s participation in a visa program for international students, faculty members, and scholars, the Globe reported in July.
International Harvard students said during move-in week that they’re very anxious about facing hostility from US Customs officials while traveling in and out of Logan Airport as the fall semester progresses.
International student advocates who spoke with the Globe said they also feel like their speech on campus and social media is being monitored, and that their visas could be revoked as a result of political expression.
EEOC investigation
Harvard faces an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation over allegations that it discriminated against white, Asian, male, or heterosexual job applicants and employees.
Experts warn the results of the EEOC hearing could influence employment practices across the country, and lead employers to abandon any efforts, even initiatives currently permitted under state and federal laws, that focus on recruiting and retaining diverse workforces, the Globe reported.
Harvard has also said that it is complying with a separate employment review from the government, and that it would send the administration employment records from all of its non-student workers.
“There’s just a real risk that employers will respond as if that is the law, and dial back on any efforts to try to diversify their workforce,” Washington University School of Law professor Pauline Kim said.
Harvard patents investigation
The federal government announced in August that it would investigate patents that Harvard secured stemming from federally funded research grants.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said his department is launching an investigation into whether Harvard has followed federal law under the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act, which is the US law dealing with patents and trademarks.
Responding at the time, Harvard called the investigation by the Commerce Department “yet another retaliatory effort targeting Harvard for defending its rights and freedom.”
Endowment tax
A new tax rate affecting a small group of the country’s wealthiest universities will take effect in 2026.
Harvard will be on the hook to pay hundreds of millions more in taxes on its $53 billion endowment, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the National Association of College and University Business Officers.
Harvard is already beginning to make minor budget cuts as a result, including reducing library summer staff, closing its Barker Center Cafe, and laying off employees inside its public health and medical school. Even president Alan Garber took a 25 percent pay cut.
Tax-exempt status
Trump in April suggested the IRS revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, which could have an enormous impact on its real estate holdings and its charitable donations, which are tax-deductible for donors, the Globe reported.
To date, the IRS has not made any public moves to change Harvard’s tax status.
Harvard’s educational accreditation
In July, Trump called on the New England Commission of Higher Education — an independent nonprofit that oversees around 230 colleges and universities — to revoke Harvard’s accreditation, which would stop the flow of federal financial aid to Harvard, a significant blow to a school of its standing.
Aidan Ryan, Anjali Huynh, and Diti Kohli of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
Claire Thornton can be reached at claire.thornton@globe.com. Follow Claire on X @claire_thornto.