Martin publishes on recent federal ruling, free speech

Sam Martin, the Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair for Public Affairs, published an article for The Conversation which discussed the recent blocking of the Trump administration's attempt to cut off billions in research funds to Harvard University. A federal judge ruled that the move violated the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs wrote that the government's action was less about grant compliance than about punishing Harvard for its speech, campus culture and academic positions.

The administration had accused Harvard of failing to curb diversity, equity and inclusion policies and allowing antisemitism linked to student protests over the Gaza war. Harvard and the American Association of University Professors sued, calling the threatened cuts unconstitutional retaliation. Martin shared that the ruling underscores longstanding legal precedent that the government cannot condition funding on ideological conformity or use financial pressure to silence disfavored views.

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