Brown University has become the third Ivy League school to strike a deal with the administration of United States President Donald Trump, restoring frozen federal funding. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, is the latest instance of an elite US school bargaining with the president and acceding to his demands. As part of the deal, Brown will pay $50 million over 10 years to improve Rhode Island’s workforce development programs.
The university will also commit to supporting its local Jewish community and restricting its acknowledgement of transgender students. This agreement comes amid a wider campaign by the Trump administration to withhold federal funds from elite universities in an effort to stem “woke” ideology and combat anti-Semitism. Opponents say the administration’s efforts are politically motivated and out of step with reality.
Brown University President Christina Paxson said in a statement that the university’s foremost priority throughout discussions with the government was remaining true to its academic mission, core values, and community. Paxson highlighted a clause that says the government cannot dictate curriculum or the content of academic speech at Brown. “The University’s foremost priority throughout discussions with the government was remaining true to our academic mission, our core values and who we are as a community at Brown,” Paxson said.
The agreement includes many similarities to the controversial Columbia University deal, including measures to address alleged anti-Semitism following widespread protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. Advocates have accused the Trump administration of intentionally mischaracterizing the demonstrations to silence pro-Palestine voices. According to the terms of the new deal, Brown will be required “to support a thriving Jewish community, research and education about Israel, and a robust Program in Judaic Studies”.
The deal also reflects other Trump priorities, including his opposition to the inclusion of transgender people in campus housing and sports teams that reflect their gender identity. Trump issued an executive order on January 20 saying that his government would only recognize two sexes, male and female, rejecting transgender identity altogether. The president has also attempted to stamp out diversity initiatives, accusing them of being inherently discriminatory.
As part of the agreement, Brown will provide a trove of data on the race, grades, and standardized test scores of students who apply and are admitted to the university for a “comprehensive audit”. The deal further bans Brown from using any “proxy for racial admission”, such as personal statements or “diversity narratives”. Brown did, however, dodge a demand imposed on Columbia that would see an independent monitor appointed to ensure compliance with the deal.
In a statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the agreement showed the Trump administration was “successfully reversing the decades-long woke-capture of our nation’s higher education institutions”. While Brown will pay $50 million into workforce development in its home state of Rhode Island, the Trump administration is slated to reimburse $50 million in unpaid federal grant costs as part of the deal.
About The Author
