Harvard University appeared in federal court Monday in a pivotal case in its battle with the Trump administration.

Harvard University is in federal court in its ongoing battle with the Trump administration over more than $2 billon in government funding halted by the White House in spring.

Lawyers for the Trump administration sparred with Harvard, Planned Parenthood and the American Association of University Professors on Monday at Boston's Moakley Courthouse over funding, free speech and more.

The stakes for Harvard will be in focus on Monday, when a federal judge in Boston will hear arguments on whether the Trump administration illegally froze more than $2 billion in research funding

Though Hajjar concedes that the Trump administration “has overstepped on some of its demands,” she advocates that Harvard cave in other respects — for example, by avoiding discussions around controversial issues like “equity” — because “the White House can make life even more difficult for Harvard.”