The Trump administration has halted over a billion dollars in funding for Cornell University. Additionally, approximately $790 million in federal funds for Northwestern University have also been frozen. These actions follow civil rights investigations launched against both institutions.

The funding freeze primarily impacts grants and contracts administered by several federal departments. These include the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, and Health and Human Services. Officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed the unannounced decision.

These actions represent a significant escalation in a broader campaign targeting prominent American universities. Within a month, billions of dollars in federal funding have been suspended or placed under review. Other universities affected by these measures include Brown, Columbia, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton.

Cornell and Northwestern are both subject to investigations. These investigations focus on allegations of antisemitism and accusations of racial discrimination. The investigations are examining the universities' diversity initiatives.