Trump Suspends Dozens Of Grants To Princeton University

PRINCETON, NJ — The Trump administration has suspended dozens of research grants to Princeton University, the Ivy League school said Tuesday.

In a message to the University community, President Christopher Eisgruber said the University received notification this week that grants were being suspended by government agencies including the Department of Energy, NASA, and the Defense Department.

The full rationale for this action is not yet clear, but Princeton will abide by the law, Eisgruber said.

“Princeton University will comply with the law. We are committed to fighting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and we will cooperate with the government in combating antisemitism. Princeton will also vigorously defend academic freedom and the due process rights of this University,” Eisgruber said. “We have begun reaching out to affected faculty, academic researchers, and grants managers.”

Princeton joins other Ivy League institutions facing federal funding threats amid antisemitism investigations. Earlier this month, Columbia University agreed to several government demands after $400 million was pulled and billions more were threatened.

President Eisgruber has taken a notably vocal stance against the Trump administration's approach to university funding, publishing an article in The Atlantic earlier this month that criticized the grant cancellation at Columbia University.

During his visit to Princeton Council, he characterized the current environment as a potential crisis unseen since the Red Scare 70 years ago, emphasizing significant challenges such as research funding cuts at universities and agencies.

In March, the University announced it was currently pausing most faculty and staff hiring amid uncertainty over federal funding and potential expansion of endowment tax.

Princeton is among several universities with open investigations into antisemitism following a wave of pro-Palestinian protests.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com