Prominent Ivy League Alumni Unite in Legal Support for Harvard Funding Lawsuit

CAMBRIDGE, MA — June 10, 2025 A coalition of alumni from Harvard, Princeton, and Yale has mobilized to support Harvard University’s legal challenge against the federal government’s attempt to block over $2 billion in federal research funding. The effort comes as Harvard contends that this freeze is unlawful and threatens academic freedom and national research leadership.

The most publicized gesture involves more than 12,000 Harvard alumni, from the class of 1950 to 2025, signing an amicus brief filed in Connecticut federal court. The letter—signed by notable figures including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey—denounces the funding freeze as “unprecedented government overreach” and argues it will irreparably harm research projects, data sets, and institutional stability.

Yale has formally joined the action, aligning with 17 other universities in a motion to support Harvard. Their brief emphasizes that the funding freeze not only impacts Harvard but also undermines America’s broader research ecosystem. In court filings, Yale and its Ivy peers assert that the cuts will “disrupt ongoing research, ruin experiments and datasets, destroy the careers of aspiring scientists, and deter long‑term investments” .

The legal confrontation began in April, when Harvard sued the Trump administration, claiming the funding freeze violates constitutional protections and federal statutes. The government justifies the freeze by alleging Harvard’s campus environment tolerates antisemitism tied to pro-Palestinian protests—but Harvard counters that these claims lack justification and amount to politically motivated interference.

The surge in alumni backing reflects growing concern among academic stakeholders about preserving university autonomy. As proceedings continue, the coalition aims to spotlight the broader implications for federal research partnerships, innovation capacity, and the stability of U.S. higher education.

*Sources:
*https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/harvard-princeton-yale-alumni-legal-backing-rcna212030