Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to halt the enforcement of a directive that would prevent more than $2 billion in federal grant funding from being disbursed to the university.
The big picture: The lawsuit asserts that the Trump administration’s action violates the CARES Act, which was passed to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is an arbitrary and capricious action that is devoid of any statutory or regulatory authority.
- The directive in question restricts the disbursement of the emergency financial aid grants to college students under the CARES Act, which allocated over $14 billion to institutions of higher education for the purpose of disbursing grants to students in need.
- Harvard argues that the CARES Act does not grant the authority to U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to restrict funding to particular institutions, and that the restrictive provisions imposed by the Trump administration run contrary to the intent and language of the legislation passed by Congress.
Go deeper: The lawsuit also contends that the Trump administration’s decision to impose conditions on the distribution of the CARES Act emergency relief funds, based on the size and tax status of institutions, undermines the objectives of the legislation and disproportionately impacts institutions that serve the most vulnerable students.
- According to Harvard’s complaint, the administration’s stance directly contradicts Congress’ objective of providing swift and substantial help to students and institutions, and seeks to prioritize greater need as a condition for the allocation of the emergency relief funds.
- Harvard emphasizes that it planned to allocate 100% of its CARES Act funding to provide direct assistance to students facing urgent financial needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is in accordance with the CARES Act’s aim to support students’ basic needs and enhance their educational experience during this unprecedented crisis.
Zoom out: The university’s legal challenge comes as part of a broader response from higher education institutions and associations against the Department of Education’s interpretation of the CARES Act, with concerns raised over the impact on students who could miss out on much-needed aid due to the government’s restrictions.
