Brown University, the Ivy League institution in Providence, Rhode Island, has agreed to shell out $50 million over a decade to state workforce development organizations as part of an agreement with the U.S. government. This deal will restore grant funding and close probes into the school, which had previously faced scrutiny over allegations of bias and discriminatory practices.
President Donald Trump congratulated the university in a post on Truth Social, stating that ‘Woke is officially DEAD’ at Brown, and commending the institution for its commitment to merit-based education and combating discrimination. Trump-appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon also weighed in, asserting that the Trump administration is reversing the ‘woke-capture’ of higher education institutions. She emphasized that the deal ensures students will be judged solely on their merits, with protections for Jewish students and women’s sports, as well as the enforcement of Title IX.
Brown University President Christina Paxson, who discussed the agreement in a lengthy message to members of the Brown community, indicated that the school entered the agreement voluntarily. She clarified that the payment is to state workforce development organizations and not the federal government, emphasizing the financial stress from terminated research grants and the broader issue of government intrusion into academic operations. Paxson also defended the university’s commitment to protecting all members of the community from harassment and discrimination, and the freedom of faculty and students to study and learn without censorship.
This settlement is part of a larger trend of the Trump administration’s efforts to reform higher education policies, with similar actions taken against other Ivy League universities. The agreement has been met with mixed reactions, with university leaders expressing concerns about the implications for academic freedom and the administration asserting its commitment to restoring merit-based education and combating discrimination. The broader implications of this legal and financial agreement are expected to shape discussions around higher education in the United States for years to come.