1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about the recent $60 million settlement between Cornell University and the Trump administration. This agreement, which restores federal research funding previously cut by the administration, bears all the hallmarks of governmental overreach and coercion. The facts of this case are alarming. In April, the administration withheld $250 million in crucial research funding from Cornell, citing alleged civil rights violations. However, the university has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The settlement requires Cornell to pay $30 million directly to the federal government and invest another $30 million in agricultural research over three years. Additionally, the university must provide admissions data and reaffirm its commitment to staff training based on a Justice Department memo about diversity programs. This settlement is not an isolated incident. Similar agreements have been forced upon other prestigious institutions like Columbia and Brown University. The pattern suggests a systematic campaign by the administration to target elite universities over issues related to campus protests and diversity programs. I urge you to initiate an immediate investigation into the Department of Justice's tactics in these cases. The use of federal funding as leverage to influence university policies and extract substantial payments is deeply troubling. It undermines academic freedom, threatens the independence of our educational institutions, and potentially constitutes a form of extortion. Our nation's universities are bastions of research, innovation, and free thought. They should not be subject to political pressure or financial coercion from any administration. The long-term consequences of such actions could be devastating to America's position as a global leader in higher education and scientific research. I implore you to take swift action. Please launch a thorough inquiry into these settlements, their legality, and their broader implications for academic freedom and institutional autonomy. Our democracy depends on checks and balances, and it is crucial that Congress exercises its oversight role in this matter.