Brown University reaches agreement with Trump administration, funding to be restored
Brown University has agreed to multiple compliance conditions to restore federal research funds.
The Trump administration threatened to freeze more than $500 million in April, causing significant problems for the university.
Brown University has agreed to a settlement with the federal government, resolving civil rights compliance investigations and unlocking $510 million in threatened medical research funds.
In exchange, the Rhode Island Ivy League school agreed to distribute $50 million over the next decade to workforce development groups in Rhode Island and to submit to new oversight on its admissions, campus policies, and programming related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
A central clause of the agreement states that “no provision... shall be construed as giving the United States authority to dictate Brown’s curriculum or the content of academic speech,” preserving a firewall between federal funding and academic governance.
Still, the deal imposes significant compliance conditions, including:
Affirmative Action Prohibitions: Brown must prove that it no longer uses race or ethnicity in admissions, scholarships, or any programs that promote unlawful diversity goals.
Campus Policy Adjustments: Brown agreed to align its athletic and housing classifications with federal Title IX definitions of “male” and “female” and to restrict gender-affirming care for minors through university health services.
Support for Jewish Students: The university pledged to maintain campus resources and conduct a third-party climate survey focused on antisemitism.
Ongoing Oversight: Brown will submit anonymized demographic data and compliance reports to federal agencies to ensure continued adherence.
The agreement includes no fines to the government.
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In a letter appended to the university’s announcement, Brown President Christina Paxson said the deal preserves the school’s academic freedom while resolving “enormous challenges” posed by the federal funding freeze.
Federal agencies involved in the probe, including the Department of Education and the Department of Justice, will permanently close open investigations into the university, provided Brown meets all terms.
The university did not admit wrongdoing.