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California Attorney General Rob Bonta is backing Harvard University in its legal fight over frozen federal research funding, arguing the Trump administration’s actions could ultimately threaten California’s public universities and the state’s research economy.
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Bonta joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in filing an Wednesday urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to uphold a lower court ruling that blocked the Trump administration’s freeze of more than $2 billion in federal research funding for Harvard.
The coalition argues the case will determine how much control the federal government has over universities through research funding.
“We cannot allow the federal government to weaponize grant funding as leverage to force colleges and universities to cave to political demands,” Bonta said in a press release. “California stands with Harvard and in support of academic independence, free speech, and the vital research that supports our communities.”
The dispute stems from a broader Trump administration campaign targeting universities over allegations they failed to address antisemitism following pro-Palestinian campus protests. In March 2025, the administration warned 60 universities they could face enforcement actions if federal reviews found they had failed to combat what it described as antisemitism.
The following month, the administration issued a list of demands Harvard would have to meet to continue receiving federal funding. Harvard rejected those demands, prompting the administration to freeze more than $2 billion in research grants.
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“No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a message to the community.
Harvard sued, and a federal judge blocked the funding freeze in late 2025, finding the administration “used antisemitism as a smokescreen” to unlawfully block billions in research funding. The Trump administration appealed that ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, where Bonta and the other attorneys general are now urging the court to uphold the injunction.
The coalition argues a ruling for the Trump administration could pave the way for similar actions against other universities that rely on federal research funding. In the brief, the attorneys general contend that allowing the administration’s actions to stand would jeopardize research, medical innovation and workforce development across the country.
Bonta’s office pointed to California’s higher education system as an example of what is at stake, noting the University of California generated $82 billion in economic output in a single year and is the state’s third-largest employer behind only the state and federal governments.
The First Circuit has not yet ruled on the appeal. The court will review written arguments from both sides, as well as briefs filed by outside groups like Bonta’s coalition, before deciding whether to uphold the lower court’s ruling.
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