Brown University announces deal with federal government to restore grant funding

Brown University on Wednesday became the latest Ivy League school to reach an agreement with the Trump administration that will restore its federal funding for things like research grants.

Columbia University ended its dispute with the administration last week after agreeing to pay more than $200 million to settle civil rights violations that were committed against Jewish students and faculty last year.

Brown University said it reached a "voluntary agreement" with the government that will restore funding for medical and science research, and resolved three outstanding reviews regarding Brown's "compliance with federal nondiscrimination obligations."

“The University's foremost priority throughout discussions with the government was remaining true to our academic mission, our core values and who we are as a community at Brown,” Brown President Christina Paxson wrote in a letter to the school's community. 

“This is reflected in key provisions of the resolution agreement preserving our academic independence, as well as a commitment to pay $50 million in grants over 10 years to workforce development organizations in Rhode Island, which is aligned with our service and community engagement mission.”

Paxson claimed the funding freeze, which began in April, caused hardship for the university that would have "undermined our ability to conduct life-saving research," if left unaddressed.

The agreement includes commitments from Brown that it will not engage in unlawful racial discrimination in admissions or university programs. It has also promised to take proactive measures to protect Jewish students on its campus.

"Because of the Trump Administration’s resolution agreement with Brown University, aspiring students will be judged solely on their merits, not their race or sex," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. "Restoring our nation’s higher education institutions to places dedicated to truth-seeking, academic merit, and civil debate—where all students can learn free from discrimination and harassment—will be a lasting legacy of the Trump administration, one that will benefit students and American society for generations to come.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.