Trump Admin Freezes $2 Billion in Funds for Cornell, Northwestern

Federal Funding Halted for Two Universities

The Trump administration froze over $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and approximately $790 million for Northwestern University on April 8. The freeze affects grants and contracts from departments including Defense, Health, and Education. This action follows similar funding pauses targeting other universities, such as Columbia and Harvard, in recent months.

The White House stated the freeze is tied to ongoing investigations into compliance with federal laws protecting students. Cornell, located in New York, and Northwestern, based in Illinois, were not formally notified before the announcement, learning of the decision through media reports. University administrators are assessing the financial and operational impacts.

Basis of the Investigations

The funding halt stems from U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights investigations into both universities. The probes focus on alleged failures to address antisemitism during campus protests last year related to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. In March, over 60 schools, including Cornell and Northwestern, received letters warning of enforcement actions if they did not ensure Jewish students’ access to educational opportunities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Cornell received over 75 stop-work orders from the Defense Department on April 8, affecting projects in national defense and cybersecurity. Northwestern’s frozen funds, totaling $790 million, support research such as medical innovations, including work on Alzheimer’s disease. Both universities have stated they are cooperating with federal inquiries.

Since January, the administration has paused billions in federal funds across multiple institutions, including $510 million for Brown, $400 million for Columbia, and $9 billion in multiyear obligations for Harvard. These actions reflect a pattern of using funding freezes to address alleged violations at universities.

Effects on Research and Operations

The freeze disrupts research at both Cornell and Northwestern. Cornell’s affected projects include advancements in defense and cybersecurity, while Northwestern’s include medical research initiatives. Administrators at Cornell issued a statement noting the significance of the halted work to national interests and their intent to seek clarity from federal officials.

Northwestern reported that its $790 million in paused funds supports ongoing projects, with a spokesperson stating that research timelines may face delays. Both universities anticipate challenges in maintaining operations, including potential impacts on hiring and equipment procurement, as they adjust to the sudden funding stoppage.

Previous Actions and Outcomes

The administration has implemented funding freezes at other universities in recent weeks. The University of Pennsylvania had $175 million paused over transgender sports policies, while Princeton reported dozens of halted research grants. Columbia, after a $400 million freeze last month, revised its protest policies and adopted a new antisemitism definition, after which some funding was restored.

Across the country, over $12 billion in federal funds are currently paused or under review for various institutions. The administration has indicated that compliance with federal requirements could lead to the release of withheld funds.

Cornell and Northwestern are among the latest targets, with the White House maintaining its approach of linking federal support to adherence to civil rights laws. The total amount frozen for these two schools exceeds $1.8 billion, with potential for further adjustments based on investigation outcomes.

Next Steps for Affected Schools

Cornell’s President Michael Kotlikoff and Northwestern’s President Michael Schill have publicly addressed the situation. Kotlikoff emphasized the university’s cooperation with federal probes in a statement, while Schill communicated to the Northwestern community via email about the importance of federal funding to their research efforts.

The administration continues to review funding allocations for universities nationwide, with billions still under scrutiny. Cornell and Northwestern are working to understand the scope of the freeze and its implications, while awaiting additional guidance from federal officials on resolving the funding pause.