Northwestern President to Step Down Amid Funding Disputes
CHICAGO — Northwestern University President Michael Schill announced he will step down, saying it was the “right time” for new leadership to take the institution forward. He confirmed he will stay on until an interim president is appointed.
In his statement, Schill acknowledged that the university still faces major challenges, particularly with federal funding. “We must continue to protect the University’s research mission and excellence while preserving academic freedom, integrity, and independence,” he said.
The announcement comes months after the Trump administration froze nearly $800 million in research funding for Northwestern. The move followed accusations from House Republicans that the university failed to adequately address antisemitism, including during campus protests against the Gaza war.
To cope with the financial shortfall, Northwestern slashed budgets and eliminated 425 positions over the summer, nearly half of which were already vacant.
White House spokesperson Liz Huston said the administration “looks forward to working with the new leadership” at Northwestern.
Northwestern is not alone in facing such pressure. The Trump administration has cut or threatened funding for several top U.S. universities, including Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton. Just this week, a federal judge ruled that the administration unlawfully revoked about $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University.
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