Penn joined 35 universities in an amicus brief warning that the Trump administration’s freeze on Harvard University’s federal research funding could threaten academic inquiry nationwide. 

The July 22 brief comes as Penn researchers and administrators contend with uncertainty surrounding federal research funding. Penn — like several peer institutions — has faced potential changes to federal grant policies in recent months that threaten the future of university research support.

Harvard filed its lawsuit after the Trump administration moved to freeze more than $2 billion in research funding. The institution stated that the funding freeze was “flatly unlawful” and violated its right to academic independence. 

In the brief, the universities argued that institutions often perform “‘basic research’ — that is, inquiry that aims to expand knowledge with no immediate practical or commercial application in mind.”

They added that the private sector does not have a clear profit in this research, as it “can be difficult to foresee the possible profitable uses.”

However, the universities argued that basic research “can ultimately yield transformative practical benefits that its investigators never anticipated.”

“Simply put, academic research generates breakthroughs that save and improve lives, build economies, and foster human flourishing,” the brief continued. “And it requires federal funding to do so.”

As a recipient of significant federal research funding, Penn could be impacted by how courts ultimately rule on the government’s right to limit that support. In February 2025, the National Institutes of Health announced a 15% funding cut that jeopardized $240 million of Penn’s funding. The following month, the White House froze an additional $175 million, citing the University’s failure to bar transgender athletes from women's sports.

During fiscal year 2025, Penn received $948 million in federal funding — a nearly 7% decrease from the previous fiscal period — according to an analysis by The Daily Pennsylvanian. 

Within the brief, Penn and other universities argued that the consequences of Harvard’s case would impact scientific development within the United States at large.

“Funding cuts would erode the pipeline and pressure these talented scientists to change fields or move abroad,” the brief read. “In short, the government’s actions here imperil innovation both today and tomorrow.”

According to the brief, federal research funding supports not only individual projects but also the broader pipeline of scientists conducting research.

“The withdrawal of federal support at even one institution is thus a blow to the entire ecosystem and deters the long-term investment necessary for scientific and technological progress,” the brief read.

At Penn, researchers have raised concerns about the potential effects of changes to federal research policies. Faculty members have warned that increased government oversight of grants could affect how research decisions are made and create additional uncertainty for scientists working on federally funded projects. 

This brief comes after the Trump administration appealed the district court’s decision to preserve Harvard’s access to funding last December.