Journalism of Courage
Cornell University has agreed to pay $60 million and accept the Trump administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws to restore federal research funding and end ongoing investigations, The Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said the deal will allow the university to recover more than $250 million in research grants that had been withheld by the US government amid civil rights inquiries.
Under the agreement, Cornell will pay $30 million directly to the US government and spend another $30 million on research supporting American farmers.
Kotlikoff said the deal restores the university’s partnership with the federal government “while affirming the university’s commitment to the principles of academic freedom, independence, and institutional autonomy that, from our founding, have been integral to our excellence,” according to AP.
The six-page agreement is similar to one recently signed by the University of Virginia, but shorter and less detailed than deals made by Columbia University and Brown University, AP reported.
Cornell must now comply with the government’s interpretation of civil rights laws concerning antisemitism, racial discrimination, and transgender issues. A Justice Department memo directing universities to drop diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and transgender-supportive policies will serve as a training guide for Cornell faculty and staff.
The agreement also requires Cornell to share detailed admissions data with the government to confirm that race is no longer considered in admission decisions a move following a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action.
US President Donald Trump has previously said some universities were not complying with that decision.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the deal as a “transformative commitment” focused on “merit, rigour, and truth-seeking.”
“These reforms are a huge win in the fight to restore excellence to American higher education and make our schools the greatest in the world,” McMahon said on X.
Cornell’s president will be required to certify compliance every quarter, and the deal will remain in effect until the end of 2028.
The payment amount places Cornell’s deal between other recent university settlements. Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million directly to the US government, while Brown University agreed to pay $50 million to state workforce programmes. The University of Virginia’s deal did not include any payment, AP reported.
