The Trump administration just pulled over $510 million in federal funds from Brown University in a sweeping response to campus antisemitism, blindsiding one of America’s most elite schools.
AT A GLANCE
- Brown University is losing over $510 million in federal funding amid allegations of campus antisemitism.
- It’s the fifth Ivy League school targeted under Trump’s crackdown; only Penn and Dartmouth remain untouched.
- Brown’s administration claims it was unaware of any formal actions or findings against them.
- A Brown assistant professor was deported over ties to Hezbollah.
- Trump officials insist universities must uphold civil rights standards to retain public funding.
Trump Takes On Campus Antisemitism—And the Ivies Feel It
Brown University has become the latest Ivy League institution to face sweeping financial penalties under the Trump administration’s campaign against antisemitism on college campuses. More than $510 million in federal funding has been frozen, adding Brown to a growing list of elite universities—including Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton—that have seen their federal cash flow evaporate in recent weeks.
The move reportedly caught Brown’s leadership off guard. “At this moment, we have no information to substantiate any of these rumors,” Provost Frank Doyle told faculty in a campus-wide email, referring to what he described as “troubling rumors” about the suspension of federal research grants.
But there’s more than rumor behind the decision. Fox News reports that the action comes as part of a coordinated effort to hold institutions accountable for what officials describe as hostile environments for Jewish students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that “universities have a responsibility to protect all students from discrimination.”
Financial Firepower Meets Campus Policy
The administration’s approach marks a stark departure from previous federal oversight. While the Biden administration focused on guidance and voluntary reforms, Trump’s team has wielded funding as a disciplinary tool. Brown joins a growing list: Columbia has already lost $400 million in funding, while Harvard is under threat of losing up to $9 billion. Princeton has also had federal research grants frozen.
This isn’t just a symbolic gesture. Brown currently receives about $184 million annually in federal grants and contracts, meaning the long-term implications of the funding halt could be financially catastrophic. Adding to the scrutiny, an assistant professor at Brown was recently deported to Lebanon for alleged support of Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
Watch coverage of Trump’s actions against antisemitism on campus.
Federal Funding Is a “Privilege,” Not a Guarantee
In comments to the New York Times, Secretary McMahon called federal funding a “privilege,” not a right—underscoring the administration’s view that elite institutions must meet baseline civil rights obligations if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.
The Trump administration’s crackdown comes amid growing national concern about antisemitic incidents on college campuses, some of which have included harassment, threats, and protests tied to anti-Israel sentiments. Brown previously made headlines for its campus negotiations with pro-Palestinian activists and considered—but ultimately rejected—a motion to divest from companies doing business in Israel.
Still, critics of the funding freezes argue that the administration is overreaching and using vague criteria to justify politically motivated punishments. Brown’s leadership insists they have not received formal findings or due process before the financial penalties were imposed.
The End of the Ivy League Free Pass?
The Trump administration has now suspended or threatened funding to nearly every Ivy League institution except the University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth. The strategy reflects a broader effort to rein in what officials describe as “ideologically captured” campuses where free speech has been weaponized to marginalize certain groups—including Jewish students.
As the dust settles, universities across the country are bracing for a new standard of accountability—one where billions in federal dollars hinge on how campuses respond to hate, discrimination, and civil rights enforcement. For Brown University and others, the message couldn’t be clearer: public funds come with public responsibility.
