Over a month has passed since Cornell and the Trump administration were reported to be nearing a $100 million settlement deal to restore hundreds of millions in frozen federal funds.
President Donald Trump’s ongoing settlement talks with Cornell, Harvard and Northwestern have now stalled, according to the New York Times. Cornell Media Relations declined to share any updates on the current status of the University’s negotiations or why they have stalled.
Harvard was reportedly close to a $500 million settlement with the Trump administration in August, following a slew of July deals reached by Columbia, the University of Pennsylvania and Brown that restored funding that had been frozen since the spring.
The slowed negotiations come after a federal judge ruled on Sept. 3 that Trump had illegally frozen billions in Harvard’s federal funding in the name of combating antisemitism. Despite the legal victory, it remains unclear whether Harvard will see its funding restored.
One reason Harvard’s talks have slowed is disagreement among White House aides who are eager to reach a swift settlement and political victory for the administration, and those who consider the current terms too lenient, according to the Times article. One cause of the delay is some aides insisting on an independent resolution monitor who would ensure compliance from the university. This idea has faced repeated pushback from Harvard.
Momentum has also stalled with the departure of May Mailman from her position as White House senior policy strategist. Mailman previously spearheaded the administration's cuts to university funding, civil rights investigations and summer settlement discussions. Now, as a senior adviser for special projects, she has stepped back from leading negotiations with universities.
Despite negotiations stalling, the Trump administration may still reach eventual settlements with Cornell, Harvard and peer institutions. Columbia’s own deal was anticipated to occur in the spring, according to the New York Times, only to be delayed until July 23.
A Harvard settlement could alter how Cornell and other schools navigate their own negotiations, and “serve as a playbook for other universities to resist the government, or signal that schools will ultimately have to fall in line,” as described by the New York Times.
Iris Liang is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a Senior Writer and can be reached her at iliang@cornellsun.com.
