Cornell University To Pay $60 Million To Restore Federal Funding In Trump Deal

Cornell University has reached a settlement with the Trump administration, agreeing to pay $60 million to secure the reinstatement of $250 million in federal funding to the esteemed Ivy League institution.

The agreement resolves a major dispute that started when President Donald Trump singled out Cornell as part of a broader campaign against elite universities he claimed were fostering liberal bias and permitting antisemitism on campus.

As a direct consequence of the Trump administration’s measures, Cornell reported facing stop-work orders, grant cancellations, and funding suspensions, with the total value of the affected grants and contracts estimated at $250 million.

The administration had initiated civil rights investigations against Cornell and several other universities, alleging they failed to safeguard Jewish and Israeli students from discrimination during campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Cornell will undertake a two-part financial obligation totaling $60 million over three years. This obligation includes allocating $30 million to research focused on bolstering U.S. agriculture and paying the remaining $30 million directly to the government.

Importantly, the civil rights investigation against Cornell has been discontinued. The university was clear in its statement, emphasizing that the agreement is “not an admission of wrongdoing.”

Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff embraced the announcement, stating that the agreement “acknowledges the government’s commitment to enforce existing anti-discrimination law, while protecting our academic freedom and institutional independence.”

He further noted that the resolution will enable the university to “return to our teaching and research in restored partnership with federal agencies.”

Although Trump had initially aimed to influence the admissions and hiring decisions of the targeted universities, Cornell confirmed that the final agreement explicitly permits it to “make admissions and hiring decisions based on merit.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli