Cornell Settles for $60M, Restores $250M Funding

Cornell University reached a $60 million settlement with the federal government on Friday, agreeing to adopt the Trump administration's interpretation of civil rights laws to restore more than $250 million in withheld research funding and resolve ongoing investigations into alleged violations at the Ivy League institution.

The agreement, announced by university President Michael Kotlikoff, requires Cornell to pay $30 million directly to the U.S. government and allocate another $30 million to research programs benefiting American farmers. This funding will support agricultural initiatives, aligning with Cornell's role as a land-grant university with longstanding commitments to such work. Kotlikoff described the deal as a balance between compliance and institutional values. "This agreement revives that partnership, 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," he said in a statement.

The investigations began earlier this year, prompted by accusations of antisemitism, racial discrimination, and bias in admissions practices. Federal...