The Trump administration and Harvard University on Monday traded barbs in a critical hearing in Boston over the government’s threats to slash billions of dollars in the Ivy League school’s federal research funding.

“Harvard can win in the courtroom but still lose almost everything it’s fought for,” said Allison Wu, the co-founder of the 1636 Forum, a Harvard alumni community named for the year the university was founded, who supports the university’s case.

The Trump administration’s legal case for cutting nearly $3 billion in federal aid to Harvard University was met with skepticism.

Harvard University appeared in federal court Monday in a pivotal case in its battle with the Trump administration, as the storied institution argued the government illegally cut $2.6 billion in federal funding.

The same day Harvard rejected the government’s demands, Trump officials moved to freeze $2.2 billion in research grants. Education Secretary Linda McMahon declared in May that Harvard would no longer be eligible for new grants, and weeks later the administration began canceling contracts with Harvard.