Cornell University Reaches $60 Million Agreement with Trump Administration

Sat Nov 08 2025 00:48:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Cornell University has settled with the Trump administration, agreeing to pay $60 million and align with federal civil rights interpretations to restore over $250 million in federal funding. This marks a significant shift in university policy amid ongoing debates over diversity and inclusion practices.

In a bid to restore vital federal research funding, Cornell University has agreed to a $60 million settlement with the Trump administration, committing to adhere to new civil rights law interpretations concerning antisemitism, racial discrimination, and policies regarding transgender issues. The agreement also imposes new data reporting requirements on admissions processes, aiming to ensure compliance with recent Supreme Court rulings. Cornell's president has hailed the deal as a reaffirmation of academic freedom while emphasizing the need for meritocracy in admissions.

WASHINGTON — Cornell University has reached a $60 million settlement with the Trump administration, allowing the Ivy League institution to restore more than $250 million in federal funding that had been frozen due to investigations into civil rights violations.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced the agreement, emphasizing the protection of the university’s academic freedom while aligning with federal interpretations of civil rights laws concerning issues such as antisemitism, racial discrimination, and transgender policies.

The terms of the deal require Cornell to pay $30 million directly to the U.S. government and allocate another $30 million towards agricultural research supporting U.S. farmers.

The six-page agreement was likened to previous settlements reached by other universities, notably a more extensive agreement made by Columbia University. However, Cornell's deal is considered less prescriptive in its demands.

As part of the settlement, Cornell will undertake compliance with federal civil rights interpretations in training programs for faculty and staff. The university is also required to submit detailed admissions data to ensure race is not used as a factor in admissions decisions, following the 2023 Supreme Court decision that effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon hailed the agreement as transformative, stating it steers focus towards 'merit, rigor, and truth-seeking,' reflecting a commitment to restore excellence in American higher education.

Cornell's president must now certify compliance with the settlement quarterly, extending the deal's effectiveness through the end of 2028.

Overall, this agreement underscores the contentious negotiations colleges face amid shifting federal scrutiny on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, balancing academic autonomy with federal requests for compliance.