Staff Report / April 9, 2025
In a significant move, the Trump administration has frozen more than $1 billion in federal funding allocated to Cornell University. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged civil rights violations at the institution. The suspension predominantly affects grants and contracts from federal departments, including Defense, Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services.
Cornell University officials have reported receiving over 75 stop-work orders from the Department of Defense. These orders impact research projects deemed critical to national defense, cybersecurity, and health sectors. The university’s leadership expressed concern over the sudden halt, emphasizing the potential disruption to vital research endeavors.
The investigation by the U.S. Department of Education centers on the university’s handling of on-campus protests criticizing Israel amid its ongoing conflict in Gaza. Cornell was placed under federal scrutiny in February for alleged antisemitic harassment and discrimination related to these demonstrations.
The financial implications of this funding freeze are substantial. A $1 billion suspension represents approximately 17% of Cornell’s total operating budget, which stands at $5.8 billion for the current academic year. The university is also the largest employer in Tompkins County, with a workforce of about 9,100 individuals.
This action is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to leverage federal grants to influence university policies, particularly concerning the handling of antisemitism on campus. Similar funding freezes have been implemented at other institutions, including Northwestern University, which saw approximately $790 million suspended under comparable circumstances.
Critics argue that such measures undermine academic freedom and may not effectively address the root issues of antisemitism. University officials and organizations like the American Council on Education have voiced concerns over the precedent set by these funding suspensions. The Education Department has yet to provide detailed explanations regarding the specific reasons for the funding freezes or the criteria used to determine them.
As the situation develops, Cornell University remains committed to cooperating with federal investigations while seeking to minimize the impact on its research programs and academic community.
