Cornell to pay $60 million in agreement with Trump admin
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Cornell University students walk through campus in November 2023 in Ithaca, New York. Photo: Matt Burkhartt/Getty Images
Cornell University on Friday said it reached a deal with the Trump administration that includes a $30 million payment to the U.S. government to end pending claims against the institution.
Why it matters: The agreement, which restores hundreds of millions in federal funding to the university, aligns with the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity policies.
- The administration will end discrimination investigations against Cornell.
- "The resolution is explicit that Cornell's agreement to these terms is not an admission of wrongdoing," Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff wrote in the announcement.
The fine print: As part of the agreement, Cornell must provide admissions data to the federal government so it can ensure race is not considered as a factor, according to a White House official.
- The university is also required to certify quarterly that it is in full compliance with the provisions of the agreement, which includes following all Title VI and Title IX laws.
- The university will also conduct annual campus surveys to determine if antisemitism issues are being addressed and if Jewish students feel safe on the campus.
Zoom in: The agreement will see Cornell pay the U.S. government $30 million, along with an additional $30 million toward research to strengthen U.S. agriculture. Both payouts are over three years, or roughly the remainder of Trump's second term.
- The research is intended to "support American farmers through lower costs of production and enhanced efficiency," the Justice Department said.
Context: Earlier this year, the Trump administration paused more than $250 million in federal funding to Cornell, which was also subject to stop-work orders.
- Cornell is now one of several schools to reach agreements with the Trump administration, which leveraged federal funding in the disputes.
What they're saying: "The agreement explicitly recognizes Cornell's right to independently establish our policies and procedures, choose whom to hire and admit, and determine what we teach, without intrusive government monitoring or approvals," Kotlikoff wrote in his statement to Cornell students, faculty, staff and alumni.
- "In short, it recognizes our rights, as a private university, to define the conditions on our campuses that advance learning and produce new knowledge."
The other side: "The Trump Administration has secured another transformative commitment from an Ivy League institution to end divisive DEl policies," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said on X.
- "U.S. universities are refocusing their attention on merit, rigor, and truth-seeking - not ideology," she added.
- "President Trump has once again delivered a major win for American students with this Cornell University deal," White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement.
Read the full agreement:
Go deeper: Colleges turn down Trump's "compact" agreement offer
