Northwestern University President Michael Schill announced his resignation Thursday, citing the ongoing federal funding freeze initiated by the Trump administration as a significant challenge. This departure follows a pattern of resignations among university leaders facing criticism and disputes with the federal government, which froze $790 million in funding, demanding changes to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and responding to protests. The university said it had fully cooperated with investigations, and Schill stated he would work with the Board of Trustees to restore the funding for critical research. While the university has updated policies to curb antisemitism, and his resignation comes amid legal battles and other university leadership changes, an interim president has not yet been named.
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Harvard faculty members are pledging 10% of their salaries for one year to mitigate the financial impact of the Trump administration’s $2 billion funding freeze. This action directly opposes the administration’s demands regarding race-based admissions policies, which Harvard has refused to comply with. The faculty’s donation, coordinated by a group of prominent professors, aims to support the university’s defense of academic freedom and lessen the burden on students and staff. Funds will be used to support university programs, contingent on a faculty vote confirming responsible university resource allocation. The university’s lawsuit against the administration is scheduled for oral hearings in late July.
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Facing a significant funding freeze, Harvard University researchers are exploring drastic cost-cutting measures. These measures may include staff layoffs and, regrettably, the euthanasia of research animals. The severity of the funding shortfall necessitates these difficult decisions to maintain essential operations. The university is actively seeking alternative funding sources to mitigate the need for such actions.
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A federal judge has indefinitely blocked a Trump administration plan to freeze federal aid, issuing a preliminary injunction against the executive order. The judge found the plan to be unconstitutional, citing its impracticality and breadth. The order aimed to pause trillions of dollars in spending virtually overnight, or alternatively, required an impossible feat of reviewing every grant, loan, and fund for compliance within a single day. This massive undertaking was deemed both legally unsound and extraordinarily impractical.
The judge’s decision highlights the inherent flaw in the plan’s design. The sheer scale of the proposed freeze—affecting potentially trillions of dollars—made its swift implementation impossible.… Continue reading
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its broad freeze on federal funding, alleging an unconstitutional withholding of at least $5.5 billion in appropriated funds. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, claims the freeze violates the Administrative Procedure Act and fundamental constitutional tenets. Shapiro argues the Trump administration is breaking contracts with the Commonwealth, jeopardizing crucial projects related to public health, infrastructure, and job creation. The suit names several federal agencies and their leaders as defendants, and follows unsuccessful attempts to restore the frozen funding.
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A Rhode Island federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate funding for federal programs after finding them in violation of a court order pausing a spending freeze. The judge’s decision, in response to a lawsuit from 22 states and the District of Columbia, cited evidence of continued funding disruptions across multiple agencies. The administration’s defiance of the court order follows public statements from President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Elon Musk suggesting disregard for judicial rulings. Failure to comply could result in contempt charges against administration officials.
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Despite rescinding a memo ordering a federal funding freeze to allow for program review, the White House insists the freeze remains fully in effect. The memo’s rescission aimed to clarify confusion caused by a temporary injunction blocking its implementation. The freeze, intended to align federal spending with President Trump’s executive orders targeting certain social policies, has already sparked legal challenges from multiple states and widespread uncertainty. The administration maintains its commitment to rigorously enforcing the funding freeze despite the ongoing legal battle and resulting chaos.
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A temporary freeze on nearly all federal grants and loans, ordered by the Trump administration, jeopardizes numerous programs, including school lunch initiatives. Georgia Representative Rich McCormick controversially suggested that children work at fast-food restaurants instead of relying on these programs, arguing that it teaches valuable work ethic. This statement sparked outrage, with critics highlighting the absurdity of expecting young children to support themselves. The funding freeze faces legal challenges, though the president cannot unilaterally eliminate congressionally approved funding.
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President Trump’s freeze on federal funding for numerous government programs has resulted in the shutdown of Medicaid payment systems nationwide, potentially impacting 72 million Americans’ health insurance access. Multiple senators confirmed system failures, citing the Trump administration’s action as the cause. While the White House claims payments are still being processed and the portal’s temporary outage will be resolved, the freeze is raising legal concerns regarding the separation of powers and the Impoundment Control Act. The OMB’s mandate to review programs for alignment with Trump’s executive orders is the stated reason for the funding halt.
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A federal judge temporarily blocked a Trump administration order halting federal grant and loan disbursements, preventing the potential freezing of trillions of dollars in funds. The order, issued by the Office of Management and Budget, aimed to eliminate spending deemed inconsistent with the President’s policies. A lawsuit filed by nonprofits and a small business successfully argued that the order’s sudden implementation would cause significant harm. A hearing is scheduled to determine whether a temporary restraining order will be granted.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood