Trump has sued universities for billions. Here's what the strategy tells us

"A year ago, President Trump issued an executive order that put U.S. universities on notice. The Jan. 29, 2025, directive targeted antisemitism on campus and launched investigations at five schools later widened to 60. But within weeks of the executive order, federal agencies started withholding billions of dollars in contracts and grants from several high-profile schools and pressuring them to align their policies more closely with Trump's on a range of issues that extended beyond antisemitism."

"Elite universities soon began reaching settlements, starting with the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University in July. Harvard University was a notable exception, challenging the administration's actions in court. In September, a federal judge ruled in Harvard's favor that the government illegally froze more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts, a decision the government is appealing. Despite Harvard's victory, more schools agreed to deals."

"The administration is seeking to alter the culture at these powerful institutions, barring them, for instance, from supporting programs aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion. What is the administration's goal? And can it do that? Universities have stressed that reaching a settlement doesn't mean they admit to any wrongdoing. But the deals have called for colleges to agree to policy changes, like adopting definitions of gender as laid out by the president's executive orders, affecting everything from campus housing to athletic programs."

On Jan. 29, 2025, an executive order targeted antisemitism on campus and launched investigations that expanded from five schools to 60. Federal agencies soon withheld billions in contracts and grants from several high-profile universities and pressured them to align campus policies beyond antisemitism. Universities began reaching settlements, including the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia in July. Harvard challenged the actions and in September a judge ruled the government illegally froze more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts; the government is appealing. Other schools accepted settlements, some paying millions, others agreeing to policy or personnel changes. The administration seeks to reshape campus culture by barring support for DEI programs and imposing presidential definitions of gender that affect housing and athletics.

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