Democratic attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia asked a federal appeals court on Monday to uphold a ruling that the Trump administration acted unlawfully when it froze research funding for Harvard University amid a dispute over campus antisemitism.
“The amicus brief is focused on the public benefit of research institutions and the significant harms caused by federal attacks on such research,” Mike Faulk, deputy communications director for the Washington state attorney general’s office, told JNS.
Faulk said that while these states agree with the court’s decision that the Trump administration “acted unlawfully in freezing funds to Harvard,” the brief “does not address the merits of the federal government’s position regarding events at Harvard.”
The brief argues that research funding freezes threaten jobs, scientific advances and state economies. It does not mention antisemitism on campus.
Massachusetts led the filing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The coalition includes Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel and Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison. Vermont and Nevada, which have Republican governors and Democratic attorneys general, joined the brief.
Nevada attorney general Aaron Ford, a Democrat, is running for governor, seeking to unseat Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. (JNS sought comment from Lombardo.)
