The government's decision is contrary to the constitution and will have "immediate and devastating effects" on over 7,000 students, according to Harvard, which has received support from a federal judge in Boston.
The decision has thus been stopped, albeit temporarily. The matter will be tried on May 29, according to the court.
"With a stroke of the pen, the government has attempted to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who significantly contribute to the university and its mission, it is stated in the lawsuit filed in Boston.
Stopped financial support
The government's decision, which became known on Thursday, represents an escalation of efforts to get Harvard to follow the president's line, according to The New York Times, which has taken part of a letter to Harvard from Kristi Noem, minister for homeland security.
Trump has previously stopped over two billion dollars in support to the university.
The university has been punished with increasingly harsh sanctions from the White House after refusing to submit to the government's demands. The Trump administration demands, among other things, that schools cease investments in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs – so-called DEI programs – and prohibit masking during demonstrations on campus areas.
Politically motivated
The White House has publicly motivated the campaign as a reaction to the "uncontrolled anti-Semitism" that it claims is growing on universities, following the noted protests against Israel's war in Gaza that took place on several campuses last year.
Democrats have claimed that Trump's actions against Harvard are politically motivated.
Harvard's rector Alan Garber said earlier in May that the university "will not give up its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government".
