The Trump administration has halted federal funding exceeding $1 billion for Cornell University and around $790 million for Northwestern University due to investigations into alleged civil rights violations, the White House announced. This action is part of a broader strategy to use public funds as leverage to ensure that academic institutions align with former President Donald Trump’s political agenda and to influence their campus policies. The decision was confirmed by the White House, though details about the affected grants were not disclosed.
Previously, the Republican administration ceased funding to universities like Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania, adding to the climate of uncertainty for these educational institutions, especially as grants have dwindled. In a move last month, the Education Department issued warnings to over 60 universities, including those in New York and Illinois, stressing the need for them to meet legal obligations to protect the rights of Jewish students, ensuring their access to facilities and educational opportunities is unfettered.
The administration contended that universities turned a blind eye to anti-Semitic sentiments during protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict last year, a claim the schools deny. Cornell University highlighted the receipt of over 75 stop work orders from the Defense Department concerning research areas deemed crucial for national security and health, but mentioned it has not received official confirmation about the freezing of $1 billion in grants.
“We are diligently seeking information from federal representatives to understand the rationale behind these decisions,” noted a statement from Michael I. Kotlikoff, president of Cornell, along with other university officials. Meanwhile, Northwestern University mentioned not having received any formal notification regarding the freeze. University spokesperson Jon Yates emphasized the impact on research, noting how federal support has been instrumental in groundbreaking developments like the creation of the world’s smallest pacemaker and progress in Alzheimer’s research.
These funding freezes are jeopardizing scientific research without effectively addressing the issue of antisemitism on campuses, according to Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education. He criticized the strategy as misguided. The Education Department has not responded to requests for comments on the issue.
Columbia University has also faced similar circumstances, having $400 million in federal funds withheld to serve as a warning. Administration officials and pro-Israel supporters have labeled protests at Columbia and other universities as anti-Semitic and aligned with pro-Hamas views, although demonstrators argue they are advocating for Palestinian human rights rather than engaging in antisemitism. To restore funding, Columbia had to comply with numerous demands, including adopting a new definition of antisemitism and bolstering the presence of its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, modifications some faculty and free speech advocates criticize as encroachments on academic freedom.
Other universities, like Harvard, have confronted demands tied to receiving nearly $9 billion in future grants, while funds have been paused for Brown University and various research grants at Princeton. The administration continues to assert pressure on academic institutions, leaving substantial research ventures in jeopardy.