Over $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and approximately $790 million for Northwestern University has been frozen while the government investigates alleged civil rights violations at the institutions. This move is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to use federal funding as leverage to influence the policies of major universities, pushing them to comply with its political agenda. The White House confirmed the freeze late Tuesday but did not provide specific details about which grants were impacted.
This freeze is part of a larger pattern where the Trump administration has used funding cuts to pressure universities into adhering to certain political positions, including addressing concerns over antisemitism on campuses. Similar actions have already been taken against schools like Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, which have faced significant cuts to their funding.
Cornell reported receiving over 75 stop-work orders from the Defense Department on research critical to national defense, cybersecurity, and public health, but it has not confirmed the specifics regarding the frozen $1 billion in federal grants. Northwestern, in turn, stated that it had not been notified of any such freeze, though it expressed concern about the impact on vital research, such as efforts in Alzheimer’s disease and medical technology.
The freeze comes after the Education Department sent warnings to more than 60 universities, including Cornell and Northwestern, about potential enforcement actions if they do not meet federal obligations to protect Jewish students on campus, including ensuring their access to facilities and educational opportunities. These warnings are linked to allegations of antisemitism during campus protests related to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which the universities have denied.
Critics argue that these funding freezes risk undermining vital scientific research without effectively addressing the issue of antisemitism. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, stated that this approach is harmful to both academic freedom and research advancement. Additionally, the Trump administration has threatened Columbia University with a loss of $400 million in funding unless it makes significant policy changes related to these issues.
Similar threats have been made against other universities, including Harvard, Brown, and Princeton, with demands for policy adjustments tied to the restoration of federal funding. Some faculty and free speech advocates have raised concerns that these actions interfere with academic independence.
