A federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration's attempt to freeze $2.2 billion in research funding for Harvard University. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued an 84-page decision on Wednesday, stating that the administration's actions were unlawful and violated Harvard's First Amendment rights.

In her ruling, Judge Burroughs emphasized that while antisemitism is a serious issue, the administration's use of it as a justification for the funding freeze was inappropriate. "We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech," she wrote. "Neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other."

The judge noted that the Trump administration's actions jeopardized decades of research and the welfare of those who could benefit from it. She found that there was little connection between the funding cuts and the alleged antisemitism on campus. Burroughs stated, "Defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country's premier universities."

The funding freeze was initiated in April after Harvard refused to comply with demands from the administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. The task force accused the university of failing to adequately address antisemitism on campus. In response to the freeze, Harvard filed a lawsuit, claiming it was a retaliatory measure for rejecting the administration's demands.

This ruling is a significant victory for Harvard, which has faced ongoing scrutiny from the Trump administration. The decision allows the university to resume its research operations and access federal funding that had been cut off. Harvard President Alan Garber has stated that while the university is committed to combating antisemitism, it will not allow the government to dictate its academic policies or governance.

The ruling may also impact ongoing discussions between Harvard and the Trump administration regarding potential agreements to resolve investigations and restore funding. President Trump has previously suggested that Harvard should pay at least $500 million, but no agreement has been reached.