The Trump administration freezes over $1.8 billion in federal funding to Cornell University and approximately $790 million to Northwestern University as part of an expanding investigation into alleged civil rights violations related to antisemitism on campus. The move is part of the administration’s broader crackdown on universities accused of failing to protect Jewish students during protests and discussions tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Cornell University confirms receiving over 75 stop-work orders from the U.S. Department of Defense, affecting a range of research projects. University officials say the freezes target work central to national defense, cybersecurity, and public health. Cornell is actively seeking clarification from federal agencies but has not been officially informed of the underlying reasons for the funding suspension beyond press reports and informal communications.
Northwestern University has not yet received direct notification from federal agencies but has acknowledged awareness of the freeze through public reporting. The university underscores that federally supported research at Northwestern includes critical advancements such as developments in Alzheimer’s treatment and medical devices like the world’s smallest pacemaker. Officials stress that halting this funding could have far-reaching implications for global research and public health.
The freezes stem from March letters sent by the Department of Education to more than 60 universities, including Cornell and Northwestern, warning of potential enforcement actions unless steps were taken to protect Jewish students and address campus antisemitism. The administration alleges that both universities failed to address reports of antisemitism and discrimination stemming from campus protests tied to criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The policy is part of a wider pattern by the Trump administration of leveraging federal funds to enforce political and cultural priorities on university campuses. Columbia University recently faced a similar $400 million freeze, prompting it to revise its student conduct guidelines. Harvard University remains under review for nearly $9 billion in federal funding, and Brown University has seen $510 million in grants suspended under similar scrutiny.
While the administration argues these actions are needed to ensure student safety and uphold civil rights protections, critics contend they represent an overreach that jeopardizes essential research. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, calls the moves “misguided” and warns they risk undermining medical and scientific breakthroughs that benefit the broader public.
As legal and political tensions escalate, universities across the country face increasing pressure to balance free speech, protest rights, and protections against hate speech on campus. The Trump administration insists that its approach is about enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. Still, academic leaders warn that the sudden halts to funding raise serious questions about academic freedom and the politicization of research dollars.
The situation continues to unfold as Cornell and Northwestern seek to resolve the disputes and protect their reputations as global research institutions.
Source Links:
https://apnews.com/article/37192b49730304960929dcb72f09469c
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-freezes-funding-cornell-northwestern-university-latest-crackdown-2025-04-09/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/08/trump-administration-cornell-northwestern-funding
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-administration-halts-more-than-1-billion-in-funding-for-cornell-790-million-for-northwestern
https://youtu.be/C73lNao6ItI
