Harvard University sued the Trump administration Monday in a new escalation of the fight over institutional oversight, independence and federal funding for the Ivy League school.

The university called the funding freeze "unlawful and beyond the government’s authority" and warned of severe and long-lasting consequences.

Harvard University announced Monday that it was suing the Trump administration to halt a freeze on more than $2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration's demands to limit activism on campus.