Secretary of Education slams ‘Obama-appointed judge’ behind Harvard ruling, commits to court fight
Jared Harris
September 4, 2025
After a federal judge’s ruling reversed a funding freeze that locked up more than $2 billion for Harvard University, the Trump administration appears ready to continue the fight.
The ruling may be appealed, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon vowing to fight the “erroneous decision” in court.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon wasted no time blasting a federal judge’s ruling that reversed the Trump administration’s $2 billion funding freeze on Harvard University, pledging that the administration will take the case to higher courts.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee, sided with Harvard and ruled that the administration’s decision to cut billions in federal research grants amounted to unconstitutional retaliation. In her 84-page opinion, Burroughs accused the administration of using antisemitism as a “smokescreen” for political reforms it sought to impose on the Ivy League school, including eliminating DEI offices and adopting viewpoint diversity standards.
