Thousands of Harvard ex-students sign legal document supporting Harvard

A historic coalition of over 12,000 Harvard University graduates, spanning from the class of 1950 to the newly minted class of 2025, has united to support their alma mater in a significant legal battle against the Trump administration’s decision to withhold over $2.2 billion in federal funding. This collective action, reported first by CNN, takes the form of an amicus brief submitted to the court on Monday, marking what is believed to be the largest alumni-driven legal brief from a single institution in history.

The amicus brief, a document provided by a third party to offer courts additional context or perspective, reflects a diverse group of signatories bound by their shared Harvard education and a commitment to safeguarding the university’s future. Among them are notable figures such as comedian Conan O’Brien, author Margaret Atwood, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, a Wisconsin beer brewer, an Ohio fighter pilot, and a South Dakota tribal leader, representing a broad cross-section of professions and regions.

Harvard initiated legal action against the Trump administration in April, challenging the freeze on federal funding and requesting an expedited court ruling. Oral arguments are set for July 21. The alumni brief underscores the gravity of the moment, arguing that the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and federal oversight of higher education across the United States.

The brief states, “As alumni, we are deeply alarmed by the Government’s reckless and unlawful attempts to assert control over the core functions of Harvard and its fellow institutions of higher education. Without due process or any recognizable basis in law—and with complete disregard for the freedoms the Constitution secures and the constraints it imposes—the Government has embarked on a campaign to deploy every power at its disposal to damage Harvard.”

It further asserts, “The Government’s end goal is to narrow our freedoms to learn, teach, think, and act, and to claim for itself the right to dictate who may enjoy those freedoms. As alumni, we attest that Harvard’s true greatness resides in the ways we share these values and exercise these freedoms.”

Anurima Bhargava, a Harvard alumna, documentary filmmaker, and civil rights lawyer who has been instrumental in organizing this effort, emphasized the broader significance of the alumni’s stand. In an interview with CNN, she described the brief as a powerful symbol of unity, transcending political and social divides. “Our education equips us to be defenders of democracy and liberty,” Bhargava said. “This is about protecting the ability of all schools—beyond just Harvard—to foster free thought, learning, and expression without government overreach.”

Bhargava also noted that some alumni hesitated to sign the brief due to concerns about potential retaliation from the administration, highlighting the charged atmosphere surrounding the issue.

The Trump administration’s actions, which predate President Donald Trump’s return to office, are framed by his allies as a response to antisemitism on campus, particularly in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, the alumni brief contends that the administration’s broader agenda extends beyond this issue and is seen by some in the White House as a politically advantageous move.

The brief declares, “We unequivocally condemn antisemitism and every other form of discrimination and hate, which have no place at Harvard or anywhere else in our society. Yet charges of antisemitism—particularly without due process and proper bases and findings by the Government—should not be used as a pretext for the illegal and unconstitutional punishment and takeover of an academic institution by the Government. Indeed, most of the Government’s demands on Harvard have little or nothing to do with combating antisemitism, or any other kind of bias and discrimination, on campus.”

Harvard is currently entangled in multiple legal disputes with the Trump administration, which has launched several investigations into the university. While Education Secretary Linda McMahon and other White House officials have indicated a willingness to negotiate, no discussions are currently underway. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the alumni brief.

This unprecedented show of solidarity from Harvard’s alumni underscores the high stakes of the university’s fight, not only for its own future but for the principles of academic freedom and institutional independence across higher education.