Northwestern University has reached a $75 million settlement with the Trump administration to resolve a federal discrimination investigation and unlock previously frozen federal funds, the Justice Department announced Friday.
The settlement was framed by Justice officials as enforcement of civil-rights requirements for institutions that accept federal money. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the agreement as a win for efforts to protect Jewish students on campus and to uphold merit-based practices.
The university was one of roughly 60 colleges the Education Department investigated for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students and ensure their uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities amid protests related to the war in Gaza. In April the White House said it would withhold about $790 million in federal funding from Northwestern while the probe continued.
Interim President Henry Bienen told faculty and staff that the payment should not be read as an admission of wrongdoing. Northwestern officials said they opted to settle rather than litigate because a court fight posed significant cost and risk.
Under the agreement, the university will pay the $75 million over time through 2028. It also must adopt clearer policies and procedures on demonstrations, protests, displays and other expressive activities, and implement mandatory antisemitism training for all students, faculty and staff, according to the Justice Department.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the deal as an important step for higher education, saying it locks in policy changes to protect campus community members from harassment and discrimination and reconfirms commitments to merit-based hiring and admissions. DOJ and Education officials suggested the reforms could serve as a model for other institutions seeking to rebuild public trust.
The Northwestern settlement follows a similar agreement earlier in the month in which Cornell paid $60 million to have roughly $250 million of withheld funds released. Cornell said its deal did not compromise its values or institutional independence.
In a video message, Bienen stressed that Northwestern would retain academic freedom and autonomy, saying university leaders refused to accept any terms that would give the federal government control over hiring, curriculum, admissions or academic programs. He summed up the position by noting that Northwestern will continue to govern its own affairs.
