Ongoing Legal Battles
Though their legal battle is far from complete, Harvard University has found the most success in suing the Trump administration to restore funding. In April 2025, Harvard, and unions representing Harvard faculty and graduate workers, sued the administration for cutting $2.2. billion in funding to the university and its affiliated hospitals that month. The administration argued that these cuts were justified under Title VI because Harvard had supposedly failed to respond appropriately to antisemitism on campus. In September 2025, a federal judge found that these cuts were illegal because, among other issues, the administration did not follow the proper procedure for withdrawing federal grants under Title VI. While this decision restored the flow of federal funding to Harvard for now, the administration has appealed the decision—leaving open the possibility of a reinstatement of the devastating cuts. UCLA won a similar victory last fall when a judge blocked the administration’s proposed funding freeze to that university based on its alleged concerns around antisemitism, transgender athletes, and DEI initiatives. While the administration initially appealed that decision, it dropped the appeal last month.
Despite these victories, the courts have not spoken with a unanimous voice. Before Columbia signed an agreement with the administration, its faculty union sued the administration to restore federal grants that had been terminated because of alleged concerns about antisemitism on campus. In June 2025, a month before Columbia inked its deal, a federal judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration and dismissed the case, finding that only Columbia could sue to restore the funds because Columbia—not a given faculty member—has a contractual relationship with the government. Months later, this reasoning was directly contradicted by the Harvard decision, which found that faculty unions could sue to restore funding because faculty are direct beneficiaries of the federal grant funds. The judge in the Columbia case also found that the Title VI procedural argument that supported Harvard’s case did not hold force where the funding cuts were based on religious discrimination—a form of discrimination not directly addressed in Title VI’s text. The tensions between the Columbia and Harvard decisions illustrate the widening schism in judicial decisions regarding Title VI and IX enforcement in the Trump era.
Even the schools that signed deals with the administration may find themselves embroiled in legal battles. The University of Virginia is attempting to use fragmented court decisions to its advantage after inking a deal. The university negotiated a unique term stating that it will follow the July 29 DOJ guidance “to the extent consistent with relevant judicial decisions.” Shortly after the university announced the deal, the university’s provost pointed to decisions applicable in Virginia that, in the university’s view, state that “Title IX requires that people are able to access intimate spaces that correspond to their gender identity and to participate in athletic competitions corresponding to their gender identity.” The viability of this gambit remains an open question, but it illustrates how institutions now bound by deals with the administration may utilize the fragmented legal landscape to their advantage.
Looking Ahead
Though Title VI and IX enforcement priorities have changed under the Trump administration, the actual rights granted by these laws have not. Students, faculty, and staff at schools that have inked deals should expect increased scrutiny from school administrators if they engage in activity supporting Palestine, trans students, and diversity initiatives. However, those facing scrutiny are still protected by civil rights laws, and still entitled to enforce those rights in court, even if government and university policy have changed.
If you or someone you know is facing discrimination or harassment at school or is involved in a Title IX or discrimination proceeding, fill out our online intake form or call us at (617) 742-6020 to be connected with one of our lawyers.