skip to contentAdvertisementUnder the agreement, Cornell will pay $30 million directly to the US government and spend another $30 million on research supporting American farmers.By: Express Web Desk November 7, 2025 11:55 PM IST First published on: Nov 7, 2025 at 11:48 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookA woman walks by a Cornell University sign on the Ivy League school's campus in Ithaca, New York, Jan. 14, 2022. (AP Photo)Cornell University has agreed to pay $60 million and accept the Trump administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws to restore federal research funding and end ongoing investigations, The Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday.University to regain $250 million in frozen fundingCornell President Michael Kotlikoff said the deal will allow the university to recover more than $250 million in research grants that had been withheld by the US government amid civil rights inquiries.Under the agreement, Cornell will pay $30 million directly to the US government and spend another $30 million on research supporting American farmers.Kotlikoff said the deal restores the university’s partnership with the federal government “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,” according to AP.Agreement follows similar deals with other universitiesThe six-page agreement is similar to one recently signed by the University of Virginia, but shorter and less detailed than deals made by Columbia University and Brown University, AP reported.Cornell must now comply with the government’s interpretation of civil rights laws concerning antisemitism, racial discrimination, and transgender issues. A Justice Department memo directing universities to drop diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and transgender-supportive policies will serve as a training guide for Cornell faculty and staff.“These reforms are a huge win”The agreement also requires Cornell to share detailed admissions data with the government to confirm that race is no longer considered in admission decisions a move following a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action.US President Donald Trump has previously said some universities were not complying with that decision.Most ReadEducation Secretary Linda McMahon described the deal as a “transformative commitment” focused on “merit, rigour, and truth-seeking.”“These reforms are a huge win in the fight to restore excellence to American higher education and make our schools the greatest in the world,” McMahon said on X.The Trump Administration has secured another transformative commitment from an Ivy League institution to end divisive DEl policies. Thanks to this deal with Cornell and the ongoing work of DOJ, HHS, and the team at ED, U.S. universities are refocusing their attention on merit,…— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) November 7, 2025Cornell’s president will be required to certify compliance every quarter, and the deal will remain in effect until the end of 2028.The payment amount places Cornell’s deal between other recent university settlements. Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million directly to the US government, while Brown University agreed to pay $50 million to state workforce programmes. The University of Virginia’s deal did not include any payment, AP reported.AdvertisementAdvertisementLoading Taboola...