Top American universities at risk of losing billions in grants: What you need to know about the Trump administration's policies
Several leading American universities are facing the prospect of losing billions in federal research funding due to ongoing tensions with the Trump administration. The White House has announced measures targeting institutions it claims have violated national interests, leading to a potential freeze or reallocation of significant grant money.
This standoff places hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants at risk for some of the most prestigious universities across the US.
While some universities have negotiated agreements to safeguard their funding, others are resisting the administration's demands. The impact varies widely among institutions, but the stakes remain substantial, with implications for research programmes and long-term planning.
Federal funding at risk for top universities
The dispute centres on alleged practices by universities, including over-dependence on federal grants and collaborations with foreign entities in sensitive research areas. The Trump administration argues these actions conflict with national security and policy objectives. As a result, several universities may lose a portion of their federal funding, amounting to billions of dollars in total.
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According to data reported by the TNN, the following universities face major grant reductions:
University
$ million in grants at risk
Johns Hopkins University
245
Harvard University
127
Arizona State University
125
Texas A & M University
100
Columbia University
100
University of North Carolina
93
Tufts College
89
University of California, Berkeley
87
South Dakota State University
86
Clemson University
81
The Trump administration has proposed cancellations amounting to $3.7 billion in total, with Johns Hopkins University being the most exposed at $245 million.
The importance of federal funding for university research
Federal funding represents a major source of revenue for research at many American universities. The top 10 recipients accounted for approximately 20% of total federal research grants in 2023, as reported by the TNN.
Johns Hopkins University alone received $3.3 billion in federal funds, the largest share.
Other top recipients include:
University
Federal funding ($ billion)
Johns Hopkins University
3.3
University of Washington
1.2
Georgia Institute of Technology
1.1
University of California, San Diego
1.1
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
1.0
Columbia University
1.0
Duke University
1.0
Stanford University
0.9
University of Pennsylvania
0.9
University of Pittsburgh
0.9
Close to 90% of Johns Hopkins' research expenditure in 2023 came from federal grants. Columbia University, Duke University, and Michigan State also rely heavily on federal funds for their research programmes, underscoring the potential disruption caused by the proposed cuts.
Universities vary in dependence on federal grants
Some universities have reduced their reliance on federal funding by expanding endowment and private sources.
Harvard, Boston University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University show lower dependence on government grants compared to others.
The share of federal funding as a proportion of total university research spending in 2023 was:
University Share of federal funding (%)
University
Share of federal funding (%)
Boston University
56
Harvard University
54
University of Pennsylvania
53
Yale University
48
New York University
45
Overall, federal funding's share of research expenditures has declined from 61% in 2010 to 55% in 2023. The shortfall has been partially offset by increased corporate contracts, private donors, and internal university investments.
Federal grants concentrated in STEM disciplines
Federal research funding is predominantly focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Life sciences received the largest share at $33.9 billion, followed by engineering with $10.9 billion, and physical sciences at $4.6 billion, as detailed by the TNN. Social sciences, humanities, and other non-STEM fields receive comparatively smaller portions.
Funding distribution by discipline is as follows:
Discipline
Federal funding ($ billion)
Life sciences
33.90
Engineering
10.90
Physical sciences
4.60
Geosciences
2.70
Computer & information sciences
2.40
Social sciences
1.20
Psychology
1.00
Mathematics & statistics
0.70
Other sciences
0.50
Non-STEM & other fields
1.70
University negotiations and legal challenges
In response to the funding threat, some universities are negotiating settlements with the administration, while others are challenging the decisions in court. Harvard University is reportedly nearing a $500 million settlement that would release billions in previously frozen research funds. As reported by the TNN, the agreement would redirect some funds to workforce and vocational programmes, with Harvard agreeing to affirm compliance with federal regulations without independent monitoring.
Meanwhile, UCLA has taken legal action against the administration over the suspension of approximately $584 million in federal funding. A federal judge recently ordered the restoration of part of these funds, ruling the suspension violated a prior injunction, according to the TNN. UCLA faces a demand for a $1 billion settlement linked to alleged civil rights violations related to antisemitism.
Columbia University has agreed to a $200 million fine and oversight measures as part of a settlement addressing complaints of antisemitism on campus. This is in line with the Trump administration's wider effort to enforce compliance with policies on campus conduct and civil rights protections.
The outcome of these negotiations and legal battles will have significant implications for the future of research funding and innovation at American universities.
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