Trump Administration Freezes $108 Million in Funds to Duke University
Duke University is the latest high-profile school, from Columbia University to Harvard, that the Trump administration has targeted and stripped of a large amount of federal funding, based on vague accusations that the university abets antisemitism or supports diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The move comes amid a wider pressure campaign from the Trump administration to shift the ideological tilt of American higher education.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, and Linda McMahon, the education secretary, sent a letter to Duke administrators on Monday expressing concerns about 'racial preferences in hiring, student admissions, governance, patient care, and other operations' in the university's health care system.
In the letter, the officials accused Duke of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race and nationality in programs receiving federal funding. Mr. Kennedy and Ms. McMahon called on Duke Health, the university's health care system, to review all policies 'for the illegal use of race preferences' and to create a 'Merit and Civil Rights Committee' that would work with the federal government.
The $108 million cut could be permanent, if the government concludes the university violated the Civil Rights Act, according to the two administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Duke University did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.
The university is weighing layoffs amid a budget crunch. It's considering about $350 million in cuts, amounting to roughly 10 percent of its budget. In a video message last month, Duke's president, Vincent E. Price, said the university was trying to sort out proposals from the federal government 'that have quite dire implications for the university.'
He added there was 'sadly, no scenario in which Duke can or will avoid incurring substantial losses of funding due to these policy changes.'
The university has imposed a hiring freeze and developed buyout plans, but Dr. Price said that Duke would 'likely' resort to layoffs.
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