Brown University Reaches Agreement with Trump Administration
Brown University has reached a deal with the Trump administration following the suspension of over $500 million in federal funding and the initiation of a civil rights investigation by the Department of Education.
The university in Rhode Island is set to pay $50 million over a decade to support the state’s workforce development efforts. This settlement comes on the heels of Columbia University’s own significant agreement with the Trump administration, aimed at addressing claims that it failed to adequately handle anti-Semitism on campus, costing the school over $200 million.
“In our discussions with the government, we stayed committed to our academic mission and core values,” remarked Brown’s President Christina Paxon. She emphasized that the agreement supports academic independence, reflecting the university’s ongoing commitment to protect its community members from harassment and discrimination. “We support our faculty and students’ rights to explore their chosen academic subjects,” she added.
The negotiated settlement not only restores federal funding but also concludes an investigation into the university’s adherence to the Anti-Discrimination Act, without any findings of fraud, as noted in communications from the Brown community.
As part of the agreement, Brown will also comply with Title IX regulations, which involve clarifying definitions of “male” and “female” and ensuring single-sex sports teams are maintained. Additionally, the university will not provide gender-transformative medical care to minors and will discontinue its diversity, equity, and inclusion policy, while upholding a merit-based admissions process along with effective measures to address anti-Semitism.
Brown has committed to sharing data with the federal government to demonstrate compliance with this agreement. Paxon affirmed that the government will not control the university’s curriculum or academic discussions.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a statement commending the agreement. She noted that the Trump administration is reversing decades of what she termed “wokeness” in higher education, claiming that this new agreement will ensure students are evaluated based on merit rather than race or gender. She further stated that steps are being taken to safeguard Jewish students and address anti-Semitism on campus, highlighting that women’s sports and facilities will remain protected under Title IX.
Former President Donald Trump also celebrated the resolution, expressing congratulations to Brown University on social media. He remarked, “There are no more anti-Semites or anti-Christians!” and declared that the “woke” agenda was “officially dead” at the university, thanking those involved in addressing these issues.
