Federal Funding Freeze Hits Northwestern Amid Investigations

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern University is facing a significant funding freeze totaling $790 million, as announced on April 8, 2025. The Trump administration‘s decision comes amid ongoing civil rights investigations by the Department of Education and the Department of Justice.

The federal funding freeze, first reported by The New York Times, is part of a broader trend affecting elite universities across the nation. Notably, more than $3.3 billion in federal funding has already been paused or cancelled due to similar investigations targeting institutions like Cornell University, which also faces over $1 billion in frozen funds.

Currently, Northwestern joins an expanding list of prestigious schools, including Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, and Princeton, that have been impacted by these recent funding cuts. The investigations focus on compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.

A spokesperson from Northwestern indicated that the university was informed of the funding freeze through media reports rather than official notification from the federal government. “Our innovative and lifesaving research is now at risk,” they stated, emphasizing the university’s commitment to cooperating with all investigations.

The funding pause applies primarily to grants and contracts from federal departments, including Agriculture, Defense, Education, and Health and Human Services. This move is seen by some as part of the administration’s broader strategy to address what they consider noncompliance with federal anti-discrimination laws among prominent academic institutions.

Despite multiple requests for comment, both Northwestern and Cornell universities have not yet issued formal statements regarding the funding freeze. As this is a developing story, updates are expected to follow as more information becomes available.