NIH Pauses Awards to Universities Amid Trump Administration Funding Freeze

Officials within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have directed the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to halt all funding awards to several prestigious universities, including Northwestern University (NU), Columbia University, Brown University, Cornell University, and Harvard University. This directive follows an internal email from Michelle Bulls, director of a NIH compliance office, that details the existing funding freeze initiated by the Trump administration, which froze approximately $790 million in federal funding for NU on April 8. Notably, NU received $519.6 million in NIH grants throughout 2024. As of the latest communications, the Trump administration has not provided clarity regarding the reasons for the funding freeze or what specific actions these universities may need to take to regain eligibility for funding. University President Michael Schill expressed deep concern over the implications of this funding freeze, emphasizing the potentially disastrous effects on critical research and the broader impact on both researchers and the communities dependent on their work. The email that circulated among NIH officials cautioned against disclosing information about the freeze to the affected universities. This situation is compounded by ongoing investigations concerning Title VI violations linked to allegations of antisemitism at these institutions, showcasing the increasingly complex relationship between academia, governmental funding, and political controversies.