The gates of Harvard Yard at Harvard University, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)2025-12-19T14:52:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration will appeal a federal judges order reversing billions of dollars in funding cuts to Harvard University, extending a standoff over the White Houses demands for reforms at the Ivy League school.The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal late on Thursday in a pair of consolidated lawsuits brought by Harvard and the American Association of University Professors. The case has tested the governments power to sway the nations oldest and wealthiest university, which has resisted a pressure campaign targeting elite colleges around the country.U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled in September that the Trump administrations sweeping funding cuts violated Harvards First Amendment rights. The judge said the government put unconstitutional conditions on Harvards federal funding and failed to follow federal procedures allowing the government to sanction universities for civil rights violations. The Trump administration cut more than $2.6 billion from Harvard over allegations that it had been slow to deal with anti-Jewish bias on campus. Burroughs rejected that notion, saying the government was using antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this countrys premier universities. The notice of appeal is a first step in the governments effort to have the ruling overturned. It does not provide legal arguments behind the appeal. A statement from Harvard said university officials remain confident in our legal position.The federal district court ruled in Harvards favor in September, reinstating critical research funding that advances science and life-saving medical breakthroughs, strengthens national security, and enhances our nations competitiveness and economic priorities, Harvard said.The White House and the AAUP did not immediately comment. Harvard has been Trumps top target in a campaign to leverage federal control of research funding to push for reforms at elite colleges he has decried as overrun by woke ideology. Harvard has put up a fight against the governments wide-reaching demands, even as others like Columbia, Brown and Cornell universities reach deals with the government.Harvard and the White House have continued negotiations amid the legal battle, and Trump has multiple times indicated a resolution was imminent. In September, he said officials were close to a deal that would require a $500 million payment from Harvard to create a giant trade school to produce workers for American plants.The deal never materialized and Trump has been quiet on the issue since then.___The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. COLLIN BINKLEY Binkley covers the U.S. Education Department and federal education policy for The Associated Press, along with a wide range of issues from K-12 through higher education. twitter mailto