Northwestern University agreed to pay $75 million to the Trump administration to resolve a discrimination probe and restore federal funding that had been frozen during the investigation, the Justice Department said Friday.
Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the settlement as “another victory in the Trump Administration’s fight to ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students and put merit first,” saying institutions that accept federal funds must follow civil rights law.
The private Illinois university was among about 60 colleges the Education Department accused of failing to “protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities” amid protests over the war in Gaza. In April, the White House announced it was withholding about $790 million in federal funds from Northwestern while probing the allegations.
Interim President Henry Bienen told university staff that the payment is not an admission of guilt, according to The Daily Northwestern. Northwestern said it chose to negotiate rather than litigate because the potential costs and risks of a court fight were too great.
The agreement requires Northwestern to pay the $75 million over time through 2028 and to “maintain clear policies and procedures relating to demonstrations, protests, displays, and other expressive activities,” as well as to implement mandatory antisemitism training for all students, faculty and staff, the DOJ said.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the deal “a huge win” for higher education, saying it cements policy changes that will protect campus members from harassment and discrimination and recommits the school to merit-based hiring and admissions. She added the reforms could serve as a roadmap for other institutions to rebuild public trust.
The settlement follows a similar deal earlier this month in which Cornell agreed to pay $60 million to unfreeze $250 million that had been withheld over alleged civil rights violations. Cornell said its agreement did not compromise its values or independence.
In a video statement, Bienen stressed the university would keep its academic freedom and autonomy. “There were several red lines that I, the board of Trustees and university leadership refused to cross. I would not have signed anything that would have given the federal government any say in who we hire, what they teach, who we admit or what they study,” he said. “Put simply, Northwestern runs Northwestern.”