Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Secures Major Settlement with Cornell University

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Secures Major Settlement with Cornell UniversityPresident Donald J. Trump’s administration reached a historic settlement with Cornell University aimed at restoring accountability, combating discrimination, and reinforcing merit-based standards in higher education.Civil Rights Compliance & Data AccessCornell agrees to comply with federal civil rights laws and end any unlawful racial discrimination in admissions and university programs.The university must provide the federal government access to all relevant data so regulators can verify compliance with merit-based admissions.Financial Penalties & InvestmentsCornell will pay a $30 million penalty to the United States over three years.It will also invest $30 million in research programs that directly benefit U.S. farmers, also over three years.Campus Climate & Anti-SemitismCornell must conduct annual campus climate surveys to ensure Jewish students are safe and that anti-Semitism is addressed.Grants & InvestigationsThe settlement reinstates all federal grants to Cornell and restores eligibility for future grants and awards.It closes pending Title VI and Title IX investigations into Cornell.Title VII investigations (employment discrimination) remain open and are not covered by this agreement.Ongoing OversightCornell’s president must certify quarterly, under penalty of perjury, that the university is in full compliance with the agreement and civil rights laws.Cornell will use the DOJ’s July 2025 guidance on unlawful discrimination as a training resource for faculty and staff.Broader Context in Higher EducationThe Trump Administration acted after public outcry and investigations into Cornell’s alleged discrimination, including:The settlement is framed as a move to protect students, uphold fairness, and enforce merit-based standards.Part of a Larger Crackdown on Elite UniversitiesThe Administration has similarly challenged Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Cornell, and others for alleged discrimination and failure to protect students from violent anti-Semitism.It negotiated a resolution with the University of Pennsylvania to keep men out of women’s sports and restore women’s trophies and records.Trump previously secured a $200+ million settlement with Columbia and a $50 million settlement with Brown, presented as major wins for accountability in academia.Key Points