Princeton’s US grants are frozen, follows Trump administration moves against other schools

WASHINGTON - Princeton University said on April 1 the US government froze several dozen research grants to the school, which became the latest academic institution targeted by the Trump administration.

In a statement, Princeton President Chris Eisgruber said government agencies including Nasa and the defence and energy departments notified the university of the move but gave no reasons for the action. Princeton did not provide a dollar value for the grants.

The Trump administration has threatened to slash federal funding for other universities over their alleged tolerance of antisemitism and a failure to protect Jewish students during last year’s pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

“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,” Mr Eisgruber said in the statement.

A Department of Energy spokesperson said the agency “paused grant funding to Princeton University pending the completion of the Department of Education’s investigation into Princeton regarding anti-semitic harassment”. The Education Department, last month, sent a letter to 60 universities, including Princeton, warning it could bring enforcement actions against them.

The other federal agencies had no immediate comment.

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say President Donald Trump’s administration wrongly conflates their criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and support for Hamas.

Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza, attacked Israel in October 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s subsequent military onslaught in Gaza has killed over 50,000, according to the local health ministry. Israel also faces accusations of genocide and war crimes that it denies.

The Trump administration is also reviewing US$9 billion (S$12.1 billion) in federal contracts and grants awarded to Harvard University.

Last month, it

cancelled US$400 million in federal funding

for Columbia University, which had been the epicentre of pro-Palestinian campus protests.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have detained some foreign student protesters in recent weeks and are working to deport them.

The Trump administration has also targeted schools over other culture war issues like diversity, equity and inclusion programs and has suspended US$175 million in funding to the University of Pennsylvania over transgender sports policies.

Rights advocates have also raised concerns about Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias. The Trump administration has not announced steps in response. REUTERS