(Ithaca, NY) – Cornell University is the latest higher education institution being targeted by the Trump White House. The school is under investigation over allegations of racism and antisemitism tied to their DEI efforts. President Donald Trump is halting more than $1 billion in federal funding to the school. A federal statute, Title VI, prohibits discrimination in programs receiving federal funding. The school is just the latest in colleges and universities coming under fire for their DEI programs along with the handling of protests against the war in Gaza.
Cornell says they are aware of reports regarding the funding freeze but have not received any official notice from the feds confirming the billion dollar figure. Although, they did receive more than 75 stop work orders from the Department of Defense. They raised concerns saying the stoppage is tied to “research that is profoundly significant to American national defense, cybersecurity, and health.” Northwestern University in Chicago is also facing a funding freeze of $790 million for the same reasons as Cornell.
