Brown University announced on 30/7 that it reached a settlement with the Trump administration, pledging $50 million over 10 years to workforce development programs and agreeing to adhere to certain government policies regarding transgender athletes and admissions.
The US government committed not to interfere with the university's curriculum or academic content. The Trump administration also agreed to restore millions of dollars in federal research funding to Brown, which had been suspended for months, and dropped its demand for an independent monitor at the school.
Earlier this year, US officials accused Brown University of "tolerating antisemitism on campus," particularly during the height of pro-Palestine protests over the 2024 Gaza conflict. The university denied the allegations but accepted the settlement to end the uncertainty surrounding its federal funding.
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Inside Brown University's campus in Providence, Rhode Island, on 22/4. Photo: AFP |
Inside Brown University's campus in Providence, Rhode Island, on 22/4. Photo: AFP
Brown is the third Ivy League school to reach a settlement with the federal government this month, escaping investigations into discrimination and restoring funding. The University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University also reached agreements with the Trump administration.
Brown University President Christina Paxson stated the agreement would allow the university to "preserve its academic foundation," academic freedom, and freedom of expression while fully complying with its ethical and legal obligations.
"Brown University is committed to complying with the law and to addressing legitimate government concerns about how we fulfill our legal obligations," she said.
US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon declared the agreement part of the Trump administration's "lasting legacy," benefiting students and American society.
"The Trump administration is reversing the decades-long trend of the nation's top universities being 'held captive by woke,'" she said, referring to the slang term "woke" used by the political right in the US to describe what they see as excesses in the name of social justice.
In April, the Trump administration announced it would block $510 million in federal funding to Brown University. President Trump also threatened to redistribute research funding from Ivy League schools to vocational schools across the country, calling it "a great investment for America."
While not suing the federal government, Brown University officials repeatedly warned of a dire financial situation. Last week, university officials said they had to borrow an additional $500 million on top of a previous $300 million loan.
Thanh Danh (AP, CNN)
