Harvard University secured a significant legal victory when a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration violated the university’s First Amendment rights by freezing $2.2 billion in research grants without proper procedures. The ruling criticized the administration’s rationale tying the freeze to antisemitism responses as unsubstantiated and arbitrary. Despite this win, the administration plans an immediate appeal, leaving Harvard’s funding status uncertain and spotlighting tensions in federal oversight of elite institutions. This case highlights broader issues around academic freedom and federal funding amidst political conflicts.