Harvard University has openly defied the Trump administration’s sweeping demands to change its internal policies, declaring in a letter this week that it “will not surrender its independence.” The high-stakes dispute—centred on allegations of antisemitism, academic freedom, and campus governance—has already resulted in the freezing of more than $2 billion in federal research grants and contracts. The university’s legal team, surprisingly, is led by prominent conservative attorneys with close ties to President Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Legal team with conservative ties signals bipartisan resistance
Harvard has brought in William Burck and Robert Hur, two Republican legal heavyweights with deep experience inside Trump’s political and legal circles. Burck, a co-managing partner at Quinn Emanuel and former adviser to Steve Bannon, has recently helped clients under federal investigation—including New York Mayor Eric Adams—negotiate with the Justice Department. Hur, a former U.S. attorney and special counsel who investigated President Biden, is known for his moderate demeanour and background in politically charged cases. Both are Harvard alumni.
Unprecedented legal resistance to Trump administration
While many law firms and institutions have opted to quietly negotiate with Trump’s government to avoid further retaliation, Harvard has taken the rare step of preparing for a potential lawsuit. Its rejection of the White House’s five-page list of demands stands in contrast to universities like Columbia, which has been negotiating the return of $400 million in grants by accepting several of the administration’s conditions.
Demands targeted classroom content, DEI policies
The Trump administration’s task force on antisemitism, which has been pressuring elite institutions, demanded sweeping changes from Harvard, including a ban on classroom masks and the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in admissions and hiring. Harvard’s lawyers initially engaged in limited back-and-forth discussions, but formal talks collapsed after the task force sent its demands late last week.
Letter rejects overreach of executive authority
Burck and Hur authored Harvard’s response, saying the university would not comply with requests that exceed the legal authority of any administration. “Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration,” they wrote, signalling the university’s willingness to defend its autonomy—even at the cost of billions in federal research funding.
Conservative credentials could be strategic
Legal experts say Harvard’s decision to retain lawyers known in Republican and Trump-aligned circles may be an attempt to frame the issue beyond partisan terms—and possibly to create an opening for future negotiations. “Trump divides the world into friends and enemies,” said University of Pennsylvania law professor Kermit Roosevelt. “There’s no regard for people who they think are their enemies.”
Burck and Hur no strangers to political firestorms
Burck, who also serves on the Fox Corp. board, is known for representing Trump allies in high-stakes government investigations. Hur, meanwhile, played a central role during Robert Mueller’s Russia probe and later made headlines as the Biden special counsel for calling the president a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” The pair’s experience navigating politically fraught legal terrain could prove crucial as the confrontation between Harvard and Washington unfolds.
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