18 of America’s leading research universities — including Princeton, MIT, and Caltech — have stepped forward in support of Harvard University as it fights the US government over a decision to block over $2 billion in research funding.

The universities, known for their contributions to science and innovation, filed a request in federal court on Friday seeking to share their concerns in Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump administration. The group includes several Ivy League and top-tier institutions such as Yale, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Harvard accuses the government of retaliation

Harvard filed the case earlier this year in Boston’s federal court, arguing that the funding freeze is politically motivated and violates its constitutional right to free speech. The university claims that the suspension was imposed after it resisted demands from the Trump administration to make sweeping changes to its internal policies, including governance, hiring, and diversity practices.

According to Harvard, the actions taken by the government are an overreach of federal authority and go against established laws that regulate how administrative decisions are made.

Fear of disruption to national research

The group of supporting institutions said the decision to withhold funding threatens ongoing research projects and scientific progress across the country. In their filing, they warned that the cuts could “ruin experiments, destroy data, damage careers of young scientists, and deter future investments.”

They also highlighted that federal grants have long played a key role in strengthening the country’s economy, national security, and global scientific leadership.

More universities and states join in 

Other major institutions backing Harvard include Boston University, Brown, Dartmouth, Rice, Michigan State, and Oregon State. The universities have requested the court to allow them to file amicus curiae briefs — formal documents that allow third parties to offer insights in legal cases.

While the lawsuit specifically focuses on Harvard, the outcome could have broader implications for academic freedom and research funding in the United States. Several other universities, including Cornell, Columbia, and Princeton, are reportedly facing similar scrutiny or funding reviews.

The Trump administration has defended its actions by accusing elite universities of failing to foster viewpoint diversity and adequately address issues such as antisemitism on campus.