White House confirms freezing $790M in federal funds for Northwestern University

EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) -- Northwestern University now joins a growing list of colleges across the country to have its federal funding frozen by President Donald Trump's administration, as the government investigates alleged civil rights violations at universities across the country.

The White House confirms it's frozen around $790 million in federal funds for Northwestern University, but did not elaborate on which grants are being affected or any further details about the funding-freeze.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Northwestern has faced questions over its handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and how it policed antisemitism on campus.

"I felt like the Jewish students who were truly under threat weren't receiving the recognition that we should've gotten," Northwestern sophomore Samuel Feldman said.

Feldman, who is Jewish, said at first, he was encouraged that the government was trying to solve antisemitism, but is not in favor of using funding, he says, as a weapon.

"I think the solution starts not with the federal government, but it starts with the administration at Northwestern, making sure this is a safe place for students here," Feldman said.

Last week, the university released what it called a progress report on what it's done to protect Jewish students.

SEE ALSO | Northwestern University, Illinois Wesleyan among 60 schools under investigation for antisemitism

Northwestern claims it has not been officially notified by the federal government, but says the funding it receives drives innovative and life-saving research, like its development of the world's smallest pacemaker and advancements in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

The university said, in part, "This type of research is now at jeopardy. The University has fully cooperated with investigations by both the Department of Education and Congress."

"I think it's unfortunate because I think that that the money that was cut is used for a lot of really helpful medical grants and other research grants. And I think to cut funding from those grants for this reason is pretty ridiculous," Northwestern junior Aidon Johnston said.

Earlier this year, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania also had their federal funding cut.

Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky posted about her disappointment in the White House decision on X, saying "This freeze won't protect the Jewish students Trump claims to defend, it will instead undermine their academic endeavors."

Students in Evanston question whether this is the best solution.

"I think there's definitely better ways going about it," Johnston said. "Cutting university research is not the way to do that."

Students and professors said the impact of the decision will stretch across the world.

"There's no way to go about it, but I think it's important that students have the ability to speak freely on campus," student Isaiah Tatum said. "I know a lot of people are kind of pivoting against academia in the future, looking toward more industry, just because they think it's more secure."

That has professors saying there's a fear layoffs could be coming.

"We provide research for this place, Evanston, for Chicago, for the nation, for the world," history professor Leslie Harris said. "There's a very real danger that some faculties, some researchers will lose jobs. It means that we will not be able to train students. Though, we will not be able to train future researchers. It is now undercutting things that protect all of us: health care, cancer research, vaccines, all sorts of medical care."

The White House is also announcing in this wave of cuts that it's frozen about a billion dollars in federal funds for Cornell University, as well.

The Northwestern Students for Justice in Palestine did not immediately respond to a request for comment.