Northwestern President Michael Schill Resigns Amid Federal Funding Freeze and Political Pressure
Northwestern President Michael Schill Resigns Amid Federal Funding Freeze and Political Pressure
Northwestern University President Michael Schill has announced his immediate resignation, effective Thursday, as the institution grapples with a significant federal funding freeze imposed by the Trump administration. His departure marks another high-profile exit among university leaders facing intense scrutiny and political battles over campus conduct and federal funding.
In a message to the campus community, Schill stated, “As I reflect on the progress we have made and what lies ahead, I believe now is the right time for new leadership to guide Northwestern into its next chapter.” He acknowledged the “serious and often painful challenges” faced since his September 2022 tenure began, particularly highlighting “difficult problems… at the federal level.”
The university has been contending with a $790 million federal funding freeze for approximately four months, an action reportedly linked to Title VI investigations concerning discrimination and the handling of protests against the war in Gaza. This mirrors similar pressures placed on other elite universities by the Trump administration, demanding changes to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
White House spokesperson Liz Huston commented on the resignation, stating, “The Trump Administration looks forward to working with the new leadership, and we hope they seize this opportunity to Make Northwestern Great Again.” House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik called Schill’s resignation “long overdue,” citing his alleged failure to protect Jewish students and address antisemitism on campus.
Northwestern maintains it has fully cooperated with federal investigations and updated policies to curb antisemitism, claiming a “dramatic decrease” in reported incidents. The university emphasized the critical role of the frozen funds in “innovative and life-saving research,” including medical advancements, now jeopardized by the funding halt.
Schill’s resignation follows a landmark federal court victory for Harvard University just a day prior, which saw a judge side with the Ivy League school in its battle to restore over $2 billion in federal research funding frozen by the White House. An interim president for Northwestern is yet to be named, with Schill continuing in his role until a successor is found. He plans to return as a faculty member at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law after a sabbatical.
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