Elite Universities Push Back As Trump Administration Freezes Billions In Federal Funding

 

Tensions are mounting across U.S. higher education as the Trump administration freezes more than $2 billion in federal funding to elite universities, starting with Harvard, over what officials describe as institutional resistance to policy reforms aimed at combating antisemitism.

Harvard University became the first to openly reject the White House's demands, which include dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, banning face coverings at campus protests, adopting merit-based hiring and admissions, and limiting faculty authority. The administration has accused these schools of promoting activism over scholarship.

“The University will not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights,” wrote Harvard President Alan M. Garber.

While federal officials claim the measures are meant to fight antisemitism following pro-Palestinian demonstrations, they have not cited specific incidents at Harvard. The administration emphasized universities must uphold civil rights laws and protect Jewish students or risk losing taxpayer support.

Adding to the pressure, the White House has also initiated visa revocations for over 525 foreign students, faculty, and researchers at more than 80 institutions—ranging from serious security allegations to minor infractions.

Columbia University: A Tentative Middle Ground

Columbia University was among the first to be targeted, with $400 million in grants frozen. After two weeks of negotiation, the university submitted an action plan to address concerns, including enforcing protest regulations, banning identity-concealing masks, and enhancing law enforcement authority.

Though three federal agencies labeled Columbia’s plan a “positive first step,” no formal agreement has been reached. Acting President Claire Shipman made clear the school would not accept federal overreach into its academic independence.

“In this moment, a continued public conversation about the value and principles of higher education is enormously useful,” Shipman said.

Princeton: Outspoken Opposition

Princeton University had $210 million in federal research grants suspended, with the Commerce Department later pulling an additional $4 million in climate research funding.

President Christopher Eisgruber criticized the government’s actions as “the greatest threat to American universities since the Red Scare of the 1950s” and stressed that no specific reforms had been requested. “I believe it is essential for us to protect academic freedom,” he told The New York Times.

Cornell and Northwestern: Blindsided by Cuts

Cornell University and Northwestern University both reported being unaware of any funding freezes until it was reported in the media. Over $1 billion in funding was halted at Cornell, and $790 million at Northwestern, reportedly linked to Title VI investigations into discrimination.

Cornell reported receiving more than 75 stop-work orders from the Department of Defense. The university is also joining a lawsuit challenging proposed Energy Department cuts to indirect research funding costs.

Northwestern emphasized the broader impact of the cuts, noting they threaten critical research in areas such as Alzheimer’s disease and medical innovation, including the development of the world’s smallest pacemaker.

“We are actively seeking information from federal officials to learn more about the basis for these decisions,” Cornell said in a statement. Northwestern echoed that sentiment, affirming it has fully cooperated with federal inquiries.

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As the White House continues to tighten its grip on funding in exchange for sweeping institutional reforms, elite universities are being forced into a historic standoff over academic independence, free speech, and the future of federal support for research and education.