Donald Trump vs Elite Universities: Funding Cuts and Investigations

A storm is brewing around Donald Trump as his administration takes aim at elite American universities. Amid global trade tensions, the U.S. government has frozen over $1 billion in funds destined for Cornell University and $790 million for Northwestern University while investigations proceed into alleged human rights violations. The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to universities accused of tolerating antisemitism and failing to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests. In March, the Department of Education sent letters to 60 universities, including Harvard, warning of potential legal action if they don’t safeguard Jewish students. Both Cornell and Northwestern have reported disruptions in their research funding, with Cornell noting a halt in joint research on health, defense, and cybersecurity. Meanwhile, Princeton and Columbia have also faced funding freezes, with Columbia announcing reforms to restart funding discussions. Beyond funding cuts, immigration officials have detained foreign students involved in protests, attempting deportation proceedings. Additionally, in March, the Trump administration suspended $175 million in funding from the University of Pennsylvania due to its policies regarding transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports.