Princeton University announced that the U.S. government has frozen multiple federal research grants, making it the latest academic institution to be affected by the Trump administration’s actions against what it describes as anti-Semitism on college campuses.
The move comes as part of a broader effort to pressure universities over their handling of pro-Palestinian protests and related controversies.
University President Chris Eisgruber stated that agencies such as NASA and the Departments of Defense and Energy had informed Princeton of the funding freeze. The university did not disclose the financial impact but noted that it had not been provided with a reason for the action.
The Trump administration has warned that universities failing to protect Jewish students from alleged harassment or allowing protests deemed anti-Semitic could face financial consequences. Federal agencies are currently investigating Princeton, along with 60 other institutions, over claims of anti-Semitic harassment. The Department of Energy confirmed that funding had been paused pending the outcome of the investigation.
Critics argue that the administration is using accusations of anti-Semitism to suppress advocacy for Palestinian rights. Some Jewish groups participating in the protests assert that their opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza is being misrepresented as hate speech. The situation has intensified since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The administration’s crackdown extends beyond Princeton. Columbia University recently lost $400 million in federal funding, and Harvard University is under review for $9 billion in grants and contracts. Immigration enforcement has also increased, with some foreign student protesters detained and facing deportation despite not being charged with crimes.
Additionally, the administration has targeted universities on other cultural issues, such as diversity and transgender policies. The University of Pennsylvania lost $175 million in funding due to policies related to transgender athletes. Rights groups have raised concerns about potential Islamophobia and anti-Arab discrimination in these actions, but the administration has not responded to such allegations.