Trump admin. freezes Northwestern funding, issues stop-work orders for Cornell
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A man walks through the Cornell University campus on Nov. 3, 2023, in Ithaca, New York. Photo: Matt Burkhartt/Getty Images
The Trump administration has halted more than $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and around $790 million for Northwestern University amid civil rights investigations, multiple outlets reported.
The big picture: Trump's squeeze on colleges and universities has hit institutions and their research capabilities through broad cuts and targeted threats over allegations of antisemitism and what the administration claims are civil rights violations under diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
- He's vowed to pull funding from colleges that allow "illegal protests" as his administration targets students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and has threatened to yank funds for schools with policies related to race and diversity.
- Cornell and Northwestern are two of dozens of colleges and universities being investigated over allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination.
Driving the news: Cornell officials said in a Tuesday statement they had received more than 75 stop-work orders from the Department of Defense but had yet to receive information confirming that more than $1 billion in funds had been paused.
- The orders, according to the letter from President Michael Kotlikoff and other officials, were related to "research that is profoundly significant to American national defense, cybersecurity, and health."
- The New York Times first reported the pause. The White House and the Department of Education did not respond to Axios' request for confirmation.
Northwestern learned of the federal government's plans to freeze a significant portion of its funding via members of the media, a university spokesperson said in a statement to Axios.
- "Federal funds that Northwestern receives drive innovative and life-saving research, like the recent development by Northwestern researchers of the world's smallest pacemaker, and research fueling the fight against Alzheimer's disease," the statement read.
Zoom out: A White House official confirmed to Axios earlier this month that the administration was planning to pull some $510 million in federal funding from Brown University.
- The school was among several other Ivy League universities to have its federal funds recently reviewed or revoked, joining Princeton, Columbia, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.
Catch up quick: Cornell was also one of 45 schools the Department of Education said last month was under investigation for allegations they engaged in "race-exclusionary practices" in their graduate programs.
- Under the Trump administration, the government's interpretation of civil rights violations has dramatically shifted to target so-called "anti-white racism," walking back decades-held policies and the country's more recent push to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
Go deeper: Trump admin cuts funding to Princeton University over climate programs
