Over 12,000 Harvard alumni back university challenging Trump blocking of federal funding

More than 12,000 Harvard University alumni have signed an amicus brief in support of the institution, marking an unprecedented show of solidarity as the university challenges the Trump administration’s move to block over $2.2 billion in federal funding, as per a CNN report.

The legal document known as an amicus brief was reportedly submitted to the court on Monday. It serves as a third-party submission aimed at offering additional context and support for Harvard’s case.

According to reports, the signatories span Harvard classes from 1950 to the recently graduated class of 2025. 

They come from diverse professional and geographic backgrounds, including a Wisconsin beer brewer, comedian Conan O’Brien, author Margaret Atwood, an Ohio-based fighter pilot, a South Dakota tribal leader, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.

The collective action represents a significant mobilisation of Harvard’s alumni network, driven by a shared concern for the university’s future and the broader implications of the federal funding cut.