Trump Administration Freezes $1 Billion in Funding for Cornell

The federal government has frozen approximately $1 billion in funding allocated to Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York. This action coincides with an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

The investigation is reportedly examining multiple potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance.

The Trump Administration has been using Title VI regulations to fight against DEI programs. This move is part of a pattern under the current administration; funding has previously been frozen at several other colleges and universities, including Columbia University, another Ivy League institution in New York.

Cornell University depends heavily on both federal and state funding for its research programs and student grants. The university is a hub for critical research benefiting New York State, with significant projects in health, agriculture, and other fields.

Furthermore, Cornell's statewide extension projects play a role in boosting economic activity across New York. Both these research initiatives and extension services could now be in jeopardy due to the funding freeze.

The freeze also poses a potential threat to the local economy in and around Ithaca. Cornell University is one of the largest employers in New York State, and disruptions to its funding could have significant ripple effects.

The specific grants impacted by the freeze originate from several federal agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, and Health and Human Services.

As of now, Cornell University has not released an official statement on the matter. Reports suggest the Trump administration has not directly contacted the university regarding the funding freeze.

Echoing this lack of direct communication, a spokesperson from Northwestern University, which recently experienced a similar freeze, informed the press that they initially learned about their situation from media inquiries, not from the administration itself.