In the complaint, the Ivy League university calls Donald Trump's actions "arbitrary and capricious."
Harvard is suing US President Donald Trump's administration over threats to its funding and attempts to impose foreign political oversight.
Trump has pressured several prestigious universities over allegations that they tolerate anti-Semitism, threatening their budgets, tax-exempt status and foreign student admissions, but Harvard refuses to comply.
"This case involves the government's efforts to use the suspension of federal funding as leverage to gain control over academic decision-making at Harvard," the Ivy League university said in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Massachusetts that names several other institutions targeted by Trump.
"The government's actions violate not only the First Amendment, but also federal laws and regulations," said the complaint, which called Trump's actions "arbitrary and capricious."
Trump is furious with Harvard for rejecting government oversight of its admissions, hiring practices and political slant, and last week ordered a $2.2 billion federal funding freeze for the institution.
The lawsuit demands that the freeze and conditions imposed on federal grants be declared illegal, and that the Trump administration pay Harvard's costs. | BGNES, AFP