Cornell University Reaches $60 Million Deal with Trump Administration
Cornell University has reached a landmark settlement with the Trump administration, agreeing to pay $30 million to the federal government and invest another $30 million in agricultural research in exchange for the restoration of over $250 million in previously frozen federal funding. The agreement, announced on November 7, 2025, represents the latest victory in President Donald Trump's campaign against what he calls 'woke' university policies.
Key Terms of the Agreement
Under the terms of the settlement, Cornell must pay $30 million to the U.S. government over three years and invest an additional $30 million in agricultural research programs that will benefit American farmers. The university must also provide federal authorities with access to undergraduate admissions data to ensure compliance with civil rights laws and conduct annual campus climate surveys addressing anti-Semitism.
Perhaps most significantly, Cornell has agreed to use Justice Department guidance as training material for staff, effectively ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that the Trump administration considers discriminatory. 'This settlement ensures that our universities focus on education, not indoctrination,' said Education Secretary Linda McMahon in a White House statement.
Financial Pressure Forces Compliance
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff acknowledged the severe financial pressure that led to the settlement. 'The funding freeze had devastating consequences for our university community,' Kotlikoff stated. 'It halted groundbreaking research, disrupted lives and careers, and threatened the future of academic programs that serve the public good.'
The restoration of $250 million in federal grants is crucial for Cornell's operations. As a land-grant university with significant state-supported colleges, Cornell relies heavily on federal funding for research and educational programs. The university's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, one of its statutory colleges, depends particularly on federal support.
Academic Freedom Concerns
Despite Kotlikoff's assurances that the agreement preserves Cornell's institutional independence, faculty members express deep concerns about academic freedom. Political science professor David Bateman, who teaches at Cornell, warned that the settlement sets a dangerous precedent. 'When you make a deal with someone who's extorting you, you only encourage more extortion in the future,' Bateman told reporters.
The agreement requires Cornell's president to certify quarterly compliance with all terms under penalty of perjury, creating what critics call an unprecedented level of federal oversight over university operations.
Broader Pattern of University Crackdowns
Cornell becomes the latest elite university to capitulate to Trump administration demands. Earlier this year, Columbia University settled for $200 million, while Brown University and the University of Virginia also reached agreements. The administration has targeted universities it considers too liberal, using federal funding as leverage to force policy changes.
Justice Department officials have characterized these settlements as enforcing civil rights laws. 'Universities receiving federal funding must comply with civil rights laws and ensure that harmful DEI policies do not discriminate against students,' said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Harvard Remains Holdout
Harvard University remains the most prominent holdout against Trump administration pressure, having already lost approximately $2 billion in federal funding. While Harvard's substantial endowment and private donations have allowed it to resist thus far, the financial pressure is mounting. The university has been forced to suspend research projects, including studies on colorectal cancer in Black men and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Trump administration's campaign against elite universities represents one of the most significant interventions in higher education policy in decades, with implications for academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the future of diversity initiatives on American campuses.