ISTANBUL

A US federal judge raised constitutional concerns about the Trump administration's decision to rescind more than $2.6 billion in federal funding to Harvard University, describing certain government arguments as "mind boggling," Bloomberg reported Monday.

During a hearing in Boston, Judge Allison Burroughs challenged Justice Department attorneys' justifications that the financial cut was warranted due to Harvard's purported inadequate response to campus antisemitism.

The proceedings addressed Harvard's lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to slash the federal funding, which the university argues violates the First Amendment.

Legal representatives for Harvard and faculty members contended that the move violated constitutional principles and lacked lawful basis, seeking a summary judgment, a court ruling without proceeding to full trial proceedings.

"There are limits to what you can terminate, and why, and how," Burroughs said.

Judge Burroughs did not issue an immediate ruling and is expected to provide a written decision later.

President Donald Trump vowed to immediately appeal the Harvard funding case, predicting the judge will rule against his administration.

"When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Trump criticized Burroughs as a "TOTAL DISASTER" appointed by former US President Barack Obama, questioning how the "Trump-hating Judge" received the Harvard case.

Her claimed Burroughs has "systematically taken over the various Harvard cases" and represents an "automatic loss" for Americans.

The funding cut is part of the escalation in the Trump administration's conflict with Harvard over antisemitism allegations and national security concerns.

The administration previously revoked Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification in May and concluded through the Justice Department that the school violated federal civil rights laws by failing to address harassment against Jewish and Israeli students during Gaza-related protests.

It also said in early July that it sent administrative subpoenas to Harvard University demanding records related to foreign students after the school "repeatedly refused" to comply with previous requests.

Harvard told Anadolu in a statement that it remains committed to upholding the law but criticized the “unwarranted” government subpoenas.