Cornell reaches deal with Trump administration to restore research funding

Cornell University has reached an agreement with the Trump administration to restore hundreds of millions in federal research funds after one of the most severe budget cuts in higher education this year. The settlement ends a lengthy government investigation into allegations of racial discrimination and admissions irregularities.

Source The New York Times

Under the agreement, Cornell will pay $30 million to the government and invest an additional $90 million to improve research efficiency and reduce agricultural costs. University President Michael Kotlikoff said the resolution would bring “long-overdue stability” to academic programs disrupted by months of funding freezes and layoffs.

As part of the deal, Cornell agreed to provide anonymized admissions data through 2028 while maintaining its academic independence. The Justice Department stated that the decision aligns with the 2023 Supreme Court ruling restricting race-based admissions. While Cornell admitted no wrongdoing, it committed to ongoing compliance oversight, effectively restoring its full partnership with federal research agencies.