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Several prominent U.S. universities are entering into agreements with the Trump administration to restore billions of dollars in federal funding that had been frozen amidst investigations into campus antisemitism. Cornell University is the latest institution to finalize such a deal, highlighting a new and contentious chapter in the relationship between the federal government and higher education.
Cornell announced it will pay a $60 million settlement and adopt a Trump-backed interpretation of civil rights law to end federal investigations and unfreeze its jeopardized grants. The agreement follows months of uncertainty after the administration halted federal funding amid civil rights probes. The university, heavily reliant on federal money for its research initiatives, faced significant financial pressure to comply with the administration's demands.
This is not an isolated event. Brown University recently struck a similar deal to restore its funding, and other institutions remain under scrutiny. Earlier this year, the administration canceled approximately $400 million in grants designated for Columbia University. The actions stem from a broader effort by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. The administration’s widespread pressure on universities has been linked to pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, which officials have argued created hostile environments for Jewish students.
The funding freezes were initiated following a directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in early 2025. This has placed major research universities in a difficult position, forcing them to negotiate compliance to avoid significant financial losses. While supporters claim it is a necessary tool to enforce civil rights, critics argue the tactic politicizes federal research funding. As more academic institutions face investigations and financial threats, the trend of negotiated settlements is expected to continue, reshaping fiscal and policy standards in American higher education.
