The agreement, announced Friday by Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, concludes months of negotiations over alleged civil rights violations and federal scrutiny into the Ivy League school’s diversity and inclusion programs. It follows similar deals reached between the administration and several other elite universities amid a broader campaign targeting what the White House has called “ideological bias” in higher education.

A deal to restore vital funding

Under the terms of the six-page agreement, Cornell will pay $30 million directly to the U.S. government and dedicate another $30 million toward agricultural research designed to support American farmers. In return, the federal government will reinstate the university’s access to more than a quarter-billion dollars in research funding that had been frozen during the investigation.

President Kotlikoff said the outcome restores the school’s partnership with Washington while preserving its institutional independence. “The agreement revives our relationship with the federal government while affirming Cornell’s commitment to academic freedom and autonomy — values that have defined our excellence since our founding,” he said in a statement.

The settlement mirrors an agreement reached last month with the University of Virginia, though Cornell’s deal is reportedly less restrictive than those signed by Columbia and Brown universities, which included broader compliance requirements and higher payments.

Federal oversight and academic concerns

The Trump administration has accused several major universities of tolerating antisemitism and maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that it argues discriminate against students based on political or religious beliefs. The Department of Justice and Department of Education have jointly investigated such allegations since 2023, using federal funding freezes to compel institutional cooperation.

Under the Cornell agreement, the university must now align with the administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws concerning antisemitism, racial discrimination, and transgender policies. A Justice Department memorandum directing campuses to roll back DEI and transgender-inclusive initiatives will serve as a training document for Cornell’s faculty and staff.

The university must also submit extensive admissions data to federal officials, allowing oversight agencies to verify that race is no longer a factor in admissions — a requirement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling ending affirmative action in higher education.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon hailed the settlement as a “transformative commitment” that prioritizes merit and excellence. “These reforms are a huge win in the fight to restore rigor and truth-seeking to American higher education,” McMahon said in a statement on X.

Attorney General Pam Bondi also praised the deal, saying it underscores the administration’s expectations for all federally funded institutions. “Colleges must fully adhere to civil rights laws and ensure that harmful DEI policies do not discriminate against students,” she said.

Academic freedom advocates raise alarm

Cornell’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) cautiously welcomed the fact that the deal omits some of the harsher provisions seen in other settlements but warned that it still poses risks to academic independence.

“The agreement omits many of the worst provisions imposed on other colleges, but it still goes beyond what the law requires,” the AAUP chapter said in a statement. Chapter president David Bateman criticized the precedent set by such deals: “If you make a deal with somebody when they’re just extorting you, that only encourages future extortion.”

The AAUP also objected to the $30 million payment to the government and to requirements that Cornell conduct campus surveys on antisemitism and share enrollment data, calling the measures “invitations for future intrusion.”

A balancing act between compliance and autonomy

Kotlikoff emphasized that Cornell was not found in violation of federal law and described the settlement as a pragmatic solution to resume research and stabilize academic operations disrupted by the funding freeze.

“The government’s actions had stalled research, upended careers, and threatened the future of programs critical to our mission,” Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the campus community. “This agreement allows us to move forward while preserving the principles of independent scholarship and free inquiry.”

Cornell’s president must personally certify compliance with the agreement every quarter until the end of 2028. The administration will retain authority to audit Cornell’s adherence during that period.

Comparisons with other universities

The deal places Cornell roughly between other settlements in scale and tone. Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million directly to the government, while Brown University allocated $50 million to state workforce development programs. The University of Virginia, meanwhile, signed an agreement with no financial penalties.

Cornell’s additional $30 million agricultural investment will unfold over three years, funding projects that use artificial intelligence and robotics to advance U.S. farming efficiency — a nod to Cornell’s origins as a land-grant university with historic ties to American agriculture.

Broader implications for U.S. higher education

The agreement reflects a broader standoff between the Trump administration and higher education leaders over the limits of federal oversight. Kotlikoff was among hundreds of university presidents who signed an April 2025 letter warning of “unprecedented political interference” in academic governance.

While the settlement allows Cornell to regain its funding and move forward, it also deepens a national debate about whether federal leverage over research grants can be used to reshape university policies.

As the deal takes effect, Cornell’s leadership faces the challenge of navigating this new era of federal compliance — one that may redefine the boundaries between academic independence and government authority for years to come.

Source: AP News – Cornell University to pay $60M in deal with Trump administration to restore federal funding

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WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is escalating its battle with Harvard University by pushing federal agencies to cancel about $100 million worth of contracts with the Ivy League powerhouse, a senior official revealed Tuesday. This move adds to an already significant crackdown on the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university.

So far, the federal government has slashed more than $2.6 billion in research grants to Harvard, which has resisted the administration’s demands to change its leadership, governance, and admissions policies. Now, a draft letter from the General Services Administration (GSA) instructs agencies to review their contracts with Harvard and seek alternative vendors. The letter was expected to be sent out Tuesday.

The New York Times first uncovered this letter, which reflects growing tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard.

What’s at Stake? Contracts Under Review Include Executive Training and Research

The administration has identified roughly 30 contracts across nine federal agencies that could be canceled. These contracts, totaling around $100 million, cover a range of services — from executive training for Department of Homeland Security officials to graduate student research and even health studies linked to energy drinks.

For contracts deemed critical, agencies have been told not to halt work immediately but to prepare plans to switch to vendors other than Harvard.

Importantly, this directive targets federal contracts only, not the remaining research grants still awarded to Harvard.

Trump’s Broader Assault: Threatening Billions in Cuts and Targeting International Students

Over the weekend, President Trump ramped up his attack on Harvard via social media, threatening to cut an additional $3 billion in federal grants and redirect that funding to trade schools nationwide. However, he did not specify which grants would be affected or how the money would be reallocated.

Trump also criticized Harvard for allegedly refusing to release the names of its foreign students. He argued that their home countries contribute nothing to their education costs and claimed some of these countries “are not at all friendly to the United States.”

In reality, international students don’t qualify for federal financial aid, but Harvard provides its own scholarships and aid to all students, both domestic and foreign.

“We are still waiting for the Foreign Student Lists from Harvard so that we can determine, after a ridiculous expenditure of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, how many radicalized lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country,” Trump wrote on social media.

What exactly he’s demanding remains unclear, especially since the government already has access to visa and other records for foreign students across U.S. universities.

Foreign Student Records and Legal Pushback

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has demanded that Harvard hand over extensive records on its foreign students, including disciplinary files and any information related to “dangerous or violent activity.” Harvard says it complied, but DHS deemed the response insufficient and moved to revoke Harvard’s permission to enroll international students.

Harvard sued to block this move, and a federal judge in Boston temporarily halted the DHS action.

Global Reactions: Japan Steps In to Support Affected Students

Internationally, the situation is drawing concern. Japan’s government announced plans to support Harvard’s international students affected by these sanctions. Education Minister Toshiko Abe said she will ask Japanese universities to prepare measures to help those students.

The University of Tokyo, Japan’s most prestigious institution, is reportedly considering temporarily accepting some Harvard students caught in the crossfire.

This latest escalation highlights the deepening rift between Harvard and the Trump administration, with wide-ranging consequences for the university’s funding, its international students, and its role in federal research and education programs.

Source: AP News – Trump administration moves to cut $100 million in federal contracts for Harvard

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BOSTON – Harvard University is taking the Trump administration to court after the federal government froze more than $2.2 billion in research funding, a move that Harvard says is political retaliation for refusing to comply with controversial campus reform demands.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Boston, comes after the Trump administration accused Harvard of fostering an environment of unchecked antisemitism following student-led protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict. In response, the administration issued an April 11 ultimatum, pushing for sweeping changes—from admissions policy revisions to stricter protest discipline and a re-evaluation of diversity efforts.

Harvard President Alan Garber refused to comply, citing constitutional protections and academic freedom. Hours later, the administration froze billions in federal research grants, affecting projects that span medical, technological, and scientific innovation.

“There’s no rational link between these antisemitism accusations and the life-saving research they’re targeting,” Harvard argued in its lawsuit. “This is arbitrary, capricious, and a threat to America’s innovation pipeline.”

The Trump administration’s hardline stance aims to shake up what it sees as liberal-dominated academia. Harvard, a longtime symbol of elite education, has now become the test case for federal efforts to force universities to toe a new ideological line—or lose funding.

The White House fired back quickly.

“The gravy train of taxpayer-funded handouts to elite institutions like Harvard is over,” said White House spokesman Harrison Fields. “Federal support is a privilege, not an entitlement.”

The administration also called on Harvard to audit its community for ideological diversity, crack down on protests, stop recognizing certain student groups, and vet international students for alignment with “American values.”

Harvard’s leadership and supporters argue that the administration’s demands violate the First Amendment and overstep the government’s authority. In a message to the university community, Garber said the lawsuit is about more than one school—it’s about protecting the independence of American higher education.

“We stand for the truth that universities can fulfill their roles in society without improper government intrusion,” Garber wrote.

The university’s legal push is also backed by major academic organizations. The American Council on Education, which represents over 1,600 colleges and universities, applauded the lawsuit, calling the freeze “a clear violation of due process and rule of law.”

This case adds to mounting tensions between the Trump administration and academic institutions, particularly those that resist its policies on immigration, free speech, and cultural debates. The administration has increasingly used federal funding—especially research grants—as leverage.

The American Association of University Professors has also filed its own suit, seeking to block the government’s review of Harvard’s funding. Harvard alumna Anurima Bhargava praised the university’s stance, calling it a “refusal to give in to escalating, dangerous demands.”

“This is a reckless attempt at control that puts lifesaving research in jeopardy,” Bhargava said.

Source: AP News – Harvard sues Trump administration to stop the freeze of more than $2 billion in grants

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