Harvard expands lawsuit after Trump cancels $450m more in grants

Harvard University expanded its lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's moves to cut off billions of dollars in federal funding to the Ivy League school on Tuesday after officials said they are terminating an additional $450m in grants.

Harvard filed the amended complaint in federal court in Boston hours after eight government agencies cancelled additional grants on top of the $2.2bn in funding President Donald Trump's administration had already terminated.

Trump's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism accused Harvard of failing to confront "antisemitic harassment plaguing its campus" after pro-Palestine protests at the school.

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly conflates their criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza with antisemitism and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.

Harvard argues the administration's sweeping demands violate the free speech guarantees of the US Constitution, also challenging a decision to freeze billions of dollars in future research grants and other aid until the college concedes to the administration's demands.