Brown University is the latest school facing the heat from Donald Trump’s administration, with the former president planning to freeze more than half a billion dollars in federal funding over what he claims is antisemitism on campus, according to Reuters.
A U.S. official confirmed that the Trump team intends to withhold $510 million in grants from the Ivy League university, although Brown says they haven’t received any official word yet.
This move is part of a broader crackdown by Trump, who’s taken aim at several universities over pro-Palestinian demonstrations held in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The U.S. Education Department sent a warning letter last month to 60 schools, including Brown, saying they could face enforcement actions if antisemitism is found.
Trump has labeled student protesters as antisemitic and even suggested they support Hamas, the group responsible for the deadly October 2023 attack in Israel. He’s tied the protests to what he calls a growing threat to U.S. foreign policy and has vowed to cut off funding to any school that he believes is fostering that type of environment.
Brown University, however, says it hasn’t been formally notified of any action and declined to comment further.
