Democratic attorneys general back Harvard in federal funding appeal
Democratic attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia asked a federal appeals court on Monday to uphold a ruling that the Trump administration acted unlawfully when it froze research funding for Harvard University amid a dispute over campus antisemitism.
“The amicus brief is focused on the public benefit of research institutions and the significant harms caused by federal attacks on such research,” Mike Faulk, deputy communications director for the Washington state attorney general’s office, told JNS.
Faulk said that while these states agree with the court’s decision that the Trump administration “acted unlawfully in freezing funds to Harvard,” the brief “does not address the merits of the federal government’s position regarding events at Harvard.”
The brief argues that research funding freezes threaten jobs, scientific advances and state economies. It does not mention antisemitism on campus.
Massachusetts led the filing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The coalition includes Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel and Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison. Vermont and Nevada, which have Republican governors and Democratic attorneys general, joined the brief.
Nevada attorney general Aaron Ford, a Democrat, is running for governor, seeking to unseat Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. (JNS sought comment from Lombardo.)
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Democratic attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia have filed an amicus brief with a federal appeals court, supporting Harvard University in its appeal against the Trump administration's freeze on research funding. The brief argues that the Trump administration acted unlawfully by withholding funds amid a dispute over campus antisemitism, emphasizing the public benefit of research institutions and the harm caused by federal interference. Kimberly Bush, from Michigan's attorney general's office, stated, "The attorney general believes it is deplorable that this administration would hold medical research funding hostage in the name of fighting antisemitism." The filing, led by Massachusetts, focuses on protecting research funding and university autonomy, without addressing the merits of the antisemitism allegations. Kenneth L. Marcus of the Brandeis Center criticized the partisan nature of such amicus briefs.
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