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The Cambridge City Council voted unanimously to praise Harvard’s decision to defy the Trump administration at a Monday night meeting.
University President Alan M. Garber ’76 announced on Monday afternoon that Harvard would fight Trump’s demands — a step the city has been pushing the University to take for the past week.
City leadership quickly mobilized to show their support for the University, with City Councilors Burhan Azeem and Patricia “Patty” M. Nolan ’80 drafting a resolution in support of Harvard just hours after Garber’s message.
The resolution, which was added to the meeting agenda at the last minute, praises Harvard for “its resolve, courage, and dedication to safeguarding American democracy.” The resolution also commits Cambridge to “offer its full support to Harvard as it navigates this challenging moment.”
But Harvard’s decision was not without consequences. Just after the Monday Council meeting began, the White House announced it will pause over $2 billion in federal grants to the University.
City leadership must now live up to the promises they made last week as they lobbied Harvard to stand up to the Trump administration. The Council unanimously passed a resolution urging Harvard to resist Trump’s demands, co-sponsored a rally drawing 500 people to Cambridge Common on Saturday, and organized a petition that garnered 1300 signatures from local residents and Harvard affiliates.
So far, Councilors have not elaborated on what specific actions the city might take to come to Harvard’s aid. Azeem pointed to Cambridge’s decision to file an amicus brief in support of the National Temporary Protected Status Alliance during a recent lawsuit as a potential blueprint.
“The city can get involved legally. We have other avenues,” he said. “There are many ways that the city can work in both formal ways, but also informally, making sure that all the local, state delegation are on the same page.”
During Monday’s Council meeting, City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 said he was proud of his alma mater’s decision.
“I’m proud to be a Harvard alum today,” he said. “I’m also proud to be a member of this incredible Cambridge community among city councilors, city staff, Harvard faculty, students and residents and community members who stood with Harvard to defend their collective values and principles.”
“This struggle is only beginning and we are behind Harvard and the important stance it is taking today,” he added.
Nolan received the news that the Trump administration had frozen $2.2 billion of federal funding during the city council’s discussion of finance goals in the next year.
“I just got the news, and I’m just kind of floored, but also kind of proud that we are standing up as a sanctuary city, and we are going to do what we can to support Harvard in this decision, because it is going to hurt them,” Nolan said.
Nolan, who also graduated from the College, wrote in a statement earlier in the day that she was proud that Harvard “took a stand for its core values and for the rule of law and academic autonomy.”
“As promised I will do all I can to fully support Harvard in lighting this decision. It is not hyperbole to say the world needs Harvard’s leadership now and I am grateful for it,” Nolan wrote.
Azeem said in an interview that he hopes that the resolution conveys a message to the University.
“Harvard, we’ve got your back,” he said.
—Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at shawn.boehmer@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.
—Staff writer Jack B. Reardon can be reached at jack.reardon@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @JackBReardon.
