The Trump administration has halted more than $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and an additional $790 million for Northwestern University as part of a sweeping investigation into alleged civil rights violations. A U.S. official revealed the move on Tuesday, stating that the administration is reviewing the universities’ handling of campus protests, diversity programs, and policies impacting transgender students.
The suspended funds cover a range of federal grants and contracts across departments including health, education, agriculture, and defense. The action reflects the administration’s broader effort to exert pressure on higher education institutions accused of fostering antisemitism or failing to crack down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified scrutiny of universities following large-scale protests in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Officials have argued that some demonstrations amount to antisemitic activity and pose a threat to national security. The administration has also raised concerns over academic programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as school policies supporting transgender rights.
Last month, the administration notified 60 universities — among them Cornell and Northwestern — that it could take enforcement action if reviews revealed insufficient measures to curb antisemitism. While Cornell confirmed receiving stop-work orders on specific research projects funded by the Department of Defense, it said it had not yet been formally notified of the full scope or value of the funding freeze. University leaders stated they are actively seeking clarification from federal agencies.
Northwestern University similarly reported that it had not received formal government communication regarding the freeze but acknowledged the administration’s ongoing investigations. The university emphasized that the affected grants support critical research efforts, including innovations like the world’s smallest pacemaker and advances in Alzheimer’s disease treatment, which now face significant setbacks.
The funding freeze follows the administration’s aggressive response to protests denouncing Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. The demonstrations erupted after Hamas launched a deadly attack in October 2023. Trump has accused protesters — including Jewish student groups and faculty — of aligning with militant ideologies and undermining U.S. foreign policy interests. His administration has labeled many of the demonstrations antisemitic and sympathetic to terrorism.
Advocacy groups have pushed back, accusing the administration of stifling free speech and misrepresenting peaceful protest as hate speech. Critics argue that the government is conflating legitimate dissent and calls for Palestinian rights with extremism.
This latest escalation builds on a broader campaign targeting elite academic institutions. The administration is currently reviewing over $9 billion in grants awarded to Harvard University, while Princeton has disclosed that several of its federally funded research programs have been frozen. In another high-profile case, $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University was withdrawn last month due to its perceived failure to address protest-related concerns, though negotiations are ongoing following administrative concessions.
The government has also begun detaining and deporting some foreign students involved in protests and has revoked visas in several cases. Human rights organizations have expressed alarm over what they see as a climate of Islamophobia and anti-Arab discrimination fueled by the administration’s rhetoric and policies.
In a separate but related move, the administration previously cut $175 million in funding to the University of Pennsylvania, citing objections to its transgender sports participation policies.
The federal clampdown on higher education continues to raise alarms among educators and civil liberties advocates who fear it marks a broader erosion of academic freedom, student rights, and open debate on university campuses across the country.
