Trump Freezes $1B Fed Funds for Cornell, $790M for Northwestern/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration has frozen over $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and nearly $790 million for Northwestern University amid civil rights investigations. The move is part of a broader campaign to pressure universities accused of failing to prevent antisemitism. Both institutions say they’ve received limited or no details and warn research is now at risk.
Trump Freezes Billions in University Funds: Quick Looks
- Funding Freeze: Over $1B for Cornell, $790M for Northwestern frozen.
- Reason Cited: Civil rights probes tied to alleged antisemitism on campuses.
- Part of Trend: Columbia, Penn, Harvard, and others also face threats.
- Cornell Reaction: Received 75 stop work orders from the Defense Department.
- Northwestern Stance: No notice yet; says life-saving research is now jeopardized.
- Policy Pressure: White House using grants to demand political compliance.
- Education Dept. Letters: Warned 60+ schools over protections for Jewish students.
- Research Impacted: Projects on cybersecurity, Alzheimer’s, national defense affected.
- Higher Ed Response: American Council on Education calls tactic damaging and wrong.
- Free Speech Concerns: Faculty groups warn this infringes on academic freedom.
Trump Freezes $1B Fed Funds for Cornell, $790M for Northwestern
Deep Look
WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 9, 2025 — The Trump administration has escalated its use of federal funding as leverage over academic institutions, announcing a freeze of more than $1 billion in research grants to Cornell University and nearly $790 million to Northwestern University. The action, confirmed by the White House late Tuesday, is part of an ongoing civil rights investigation into how universities are handling alleged antisemitism on their campuses.
Funding Used as Political Tool
The administration has increasingly used federal grants as pressure points, previously targeting Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. The strategy, rooted in President Donald Trump’s demand that universities adopt tougher policies aligned with his political agenda, is sending shockwaves through higher education and research communities nationwide.
While the White House confirmed the freezes, it offered no details on which specific grants were affected.
Universities Push Back
Cornell officials confirmed receipt of over 75 stop work orders from the Department of Defense, halting research they say is vital to national defense, cybersecurity, and health. However, the school said it had not received any detailed explanation about a full $1 billion funding freeze.
“We are actively seeking information from federal officials to learn more,” said university President Michael I. Kotlikoff in a statement co-signed by top administrators.
Northwestern, meanwhile, said it had received no official notification. University spokesperson Jon Yates highlighted that federal funds had enabled breakthroughs like the world’s smallest pacemaker and major Alzheimer’s research — efforts now jeopardized.
Backdrop of Antisemitism Accusations
The Trump administration has warned dozens of universities that they risk losing funding if they fail to adequately protect Jewish students. Letters sent last month to over 60 schools, including Cornell and Northwestern, demanded compliance with federal civil rights laws following anti-Israel protests related to the war in Gaza.
Although the schools have denied the claims of antisemitism or discrimination, Trump officials insist that the failure to curb campus protests justifies the withdrawal of federal support.
Broader Pattern of Enforcement
Columbia University was the first institution publicly targeted, with the White House threatening to strip it of $400 million in research funds. A subsequent agreement — reached after intense pressure — required Columbia to alter campus policies to meet Trump administration demands, sparking concerns over academic independence.
That deal became a template. Harvard University has since faced nearly $9 billion in federal funding being tied to similar conditions. Brown University and Princeton have also had funding paused.
Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, warned that the strategy harms critical research while doing little to address discrimination.
“This was wrong last week, it is wrong this week, and it will be wrong next week,” Mitchell said.
Legal and Constitutional Questions
While federal officials argue they’re ensuring compliance with civil rights law, critics — including legal scholars and free speech advocates — say the approach may overstep constitutional boundaries by coercing institutions into adopting ideologically driven reforms.
Academic leaders also question whether the freezes are legally enforceable, as many of the impacted grants span multiple agencies and were awarded through competitive scientific review.
What’s Next?
For now, universities like Cornell and Northwestern remain in limbo, unclear which grants are affected or what they must do to lift the suspensions. Researchers across disciplines are scrambling to pause experiments, furlough staff, and inform partners of potential delays.
The Education Department declined to comment on the specifics of the freezes or the progress of its investigations.
Trump officials have said more universities could face similar action — making clear this tactic is part of a wider policy shift aimed at reshaping American higher education.
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