Brown University announced on Wednesday that it has reached a $50 million agreement with the Trump administration following prolonged negotiations regarding its suspended medical and health sciences funding.
This voluntary agreement, which spans a decade, will direct funds to state workforce development organizations that comply with anti-discrimination laws. This development follows closely behind Columbia University’s recent resolution involving more than $200 million with the administration and marks the third agreement with an Ivy League institution this month, following the University of Pennsylvania’s settlement concerning Title IX violations.
The administration accused Brown of failing to address antisemitism and discrimination on campus. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the deal marks a reversal of what she termed the “decades-long ‘woke-capture'” in higher education.
“Brown has committed to proactive measures to protect Jewish students and combat Antisemitism on campus,” McMahon expressed in her statement. She also emphasized that “Women’s sports and intimate facilities will be protected for women and Title IX will be enforced as it was intended.”
The agreement facilitates the reinstatement of payments for current research grants and enables Brown to pursue new federal grants and contracts while ensuring that its academic environment remains free from government interference, according to university officials. University President Christina Paxton expressed gratitude for the agreement’s clear assurance that it does not grant the government “authority to dictate Brown’s curriculum or the content of academic speech.”
Unlike some other institutions, Brown indicated that it had not received any formal notification regarding the rationale behind the cessation of its federal research funding, asserting that it had never been informed of any legal violations. The agreement explicitly states that “Brown expressly denies liability regarding the United States’ allegations or findings.”
Since March, Brown had over $500 million in federal research grants and contracts frozen, which led to significant financial strain prompting the university to secure a $300 million loan in April and another $500 million loan earlier this month. Among the numerous universities facing pressures from the administration to modify policies it deems divisive, including those related to antisemitism and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Brown remains a key institution affected by the withholding of federal funding.
In ongoing developments, Harvard University is currently negotiating with the Trump administration as it faces legal challenges regarding more than $2 billion in federal funding frozen due to similar allegations of failing to adequately condemn harassment against Jewish students.
