Northwestern settles with Trump administration in $75M deal to regain federal funding

"Northwestern is one of several schools ensnared in President Trump's campaign against university policies he has decried as "woke." Specifically, the Illinois private school was one of 60 colleges the Education Department accused of shirking their obligations to "protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities" amid heated university protests against the war in Gaza."

"In April, the White House announced it was withholding some $790 million in federal funds from Northwestern while the government investigated the claims. University interim President Henry Bienen said in a statement to university personnel that "the payment is not an admission of guilt," according to the school newspaper The Daily Northwestern. Earlier this month, Cornell reached a deal requiring the university to pay $60 million to unfreeze $250 million withheld by the Trump administration."

Northwestern University agreed to pay $75 million to the Trump administration to settle a discrimination investigation and restore federal funds that had been frozen during the inquiry. The Justice Department announced the settlement and Attorney General Pam Bondi said the action advances protections for Jewish students and enforcement of civil rights law for institutions receiving federal funds. Northwestern was among 60 colleges accused by the Education Department of failing to protect Jewish students amid heated protests tied to the war in Gaza. The White House had withheld about $790 million in federal funding during the government investigation. The university said the payment is not an admission of guilt.

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