Northwestern University President Michael Schill introduced his resignation Thursday because the college faces an ongoing funding freeze by the Trump administration.
“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,” Schill stated in a message to the campus community.
“Therefore, I have decided, in consultation with the leadership of the Board of Trustees, that I will step down as President.”
An interim president has but to be named and Schill will proceed in his position till then, the college stated in a news release.
In his message, Schill wrote the college confronted “serious and often painful challenges” since his tenure started in September 2022, and “difficult problems remain, particularly at the federal level.”
The college famous these challenges embody the federal funding freeze, which started about 4 months in the past when the Trump administration froze $790 million in federal funding.
At the time, a White House official informed NCS the freeze was linked to a number of Title VI investigations. The federal statute prohibits discrimination in packages and actions that obtain federal funding.
The college stated it had “fully cooperated with investigations by both the Department of Education and Congress.”
White House spokesperson Liz Huston stated Thursday, “The Trump Administration looks forward to working with the new leadership, and we hope they seize this opportunity to Make Northwestern Great Again.”
The college highlighted Schill’s work in main “efforts to ensure the continuation of funding for critical research” through the funding freeze, and stated he’ll proceed to work with its Board of Trustees to get them restored.
Previously, the college stated the federal funds have been used for “innovative and life-saving research,” together with the event of the world’s smallest pacemaker and analysis to fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
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