Brown Agrees to Settlement Restoring Federal Funds

Brown University has settled with the Trump administration to restore over $500 million in previously frozen federal research funding, agreeing to pay $50 million over ten years to Rhode Island workforce development organizations. The agreement resolves three federal discrimination investigations without findings of wrongdoing. Brown must eliminate race-based admissions, adopt federal definitions of 'male' and 'female' for athletics and facilities, and prohibit gender-affirming medical care for minors. The university also committed to combating antisemitism, supporting Jewish students, and providing data for federal compliance checks. The settlement explicitly forbids the government from dictating curriculum or academic speech, preserving Brown's academic independence. Critics have raised concerns that these agreements are politically motivated and may threaten academic freedom.