The Trump administration unveiled a comprehensive civil‑rights settlement with Northwestern University on Friday. Through the deal, the school agreed to pay the U.S. government $75 million and take steps to eliminate policies that could lead to “unlawful discrimination.” The university also committed to prevent a “hostile educational environment directed toward Jewish students,” to establish clear guidelines for demonstrations and other expressive activities, and to introduce mandatory antisemitism training for staff and students.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the agreement marks another milestone in the administration’s effort “to ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students and put merit first.” She added that institutions that receive federal funds must uphold civil‑rights law and praised Northwestern for reaching this “historic deal.”
The university will spread the payment over several years, completing the $75 million outlay by 2028. While the settlement does not constitute an admission of guilt, President Henry Bienen characterized it as “one that was made based on institutional values.” He asserted that the university “would not relinquish any control over whom we hire, whom we admit as students, what our faculty teach or how our faculty teach.” “Northwestern runs Northwestern. Period,” Bienen emphasized, and noted that the payment is a “condition of the agreement.”
The deal follows the administration’s $221 million settlement with Columbia University, which included approximately $200 million for alleged discriminatory practices and $21 million to resolve claims of antisemitic employment discrimination against Jewish faculty after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hailed the Northwestern agreement as a “huge win” for students, alumni, and faculty and praised the policy changes that would protect the campus community from “harassment and discrimination.” She said the reforms would serve as a “roadmap for institutional leaders around the country” and help restore public confidence in higher‑education institutions.
In a related move, the Department of Justice said it would close its pending investigations of Northwestern and would treat the university as eligible for future grants, contracts, and awards. Earlier this year, the administration placed a freeze on about $790 million in federal funding for Northwestern and over $1 billion for Cornell amid ongoing civil‑rights probes.
The settlement also addressed campus tensions, including protests over Israel and anti‑Israel sentiment. One illustration shows a satirical “NU Liberated Zone” sign on the campus, underscoring students’ concerns about free expression. The university’s leadership has stressed that the agreement protects the integrity of admissions and hiring practices while ensuring compliance with federal civil‑rights standards.
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