Donald Trump is trying to cut over 2 billion dollars in Harvard funding, and a court will hear the case on Monday. Here is the full story so far.

The Trump administration sent Harvard 10 demands in April 2025. These included ending diversity programmes and letting outsiders audit departments. Harvard’s president Alan Garber refused, saying no government should dictate what universities teach.

The administration then froze federal grants and later terminated about 2.2 billion dollars. It said Harvard had failed to address harassment of Jewish students during protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Harvard sued, arguing the cuts were retaliation for free speech. In September, a federal judge ruled the termination unlawful. The administration appealed, and now the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston will hear oral arguments.

The outcome could decide whether presidents can use research money to force change at universities. Harvard says labs could close and research could be lost if the cuts stand.

What happens next: arguments on Monday, with a ruling to follow. A separate hearing on Tuesday covers Harvard’s international students.