Northwestern University President to Step Down Amid Federal Funding Standoff

Michael Schill said the university needs ‘new leadership’ as it grapples with a federal funding freeze and lingering controversy over pro-Palestine encampments.

Michael Schill, president of Northwestern University, testifies at a hearing on Capitol Hill, in Washinghton, on May 23, 2024. Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images

Northwestern University President Michael Schill announced his resignation on Thursday, saying the school needs “new leadership” as it faces ongoing pressure from the Trump administration over federal funding and campus unrest tied to pro-Palestinian protests.

Schill, who has led the Evanston, Illinois, institution since 2022, said in a statement on Sept. 4 that the university had made “significant progress” during his time at the helm, while also noting “extraordinary challenges” the institution has faced—and continues to be buffeted by.

He pointed to gains in teaching, research, philanthropy, and student welfare, along with the introduction of artificial intelligence across disciplines and new campus construction.

“At the same time, from the very beginning of my tenure, Northwestern faced serious and often painful challenges,” Schill wrote.

“I also recognize that difficult problems remain, particularly at the federal level. It is critical that we continue to protect the University’s research mission and excellence while preserving academic freedom, integrity, and independence,” he added.

Schill said he would remain in his position until an interim president is appointed and then take a sabbatical before returning to teach at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law.

The announcement was made less than five months after the Trump administration froze nearly $800 million in federal funding to Northwestern, citing findings of anti-Semitism on campus.

The school has been among several elite universities in the crosshairs of the administration during investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, alleged civil rights violations, as well as claims of discrimination against Jewish students amid protests over the Gaza war.

President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders in January and February barring anti-Semitism, race-based hiring, and transgender participation in women’s sports on college campuses. His administration has since opened investigations into more than 60 universities, including Harvard, Columbia, Duke, and UCLA.

Columbia in July agreed to a $221 million settlement that includes a series of reforms that Education Secretary Linda McMahon described as a “roadmap for elite universities that wish to regain the confidence of the American public by renewing their commitment to truth-seeking merit, and civil debate.”

Northwestern, however, has not yet reached a settlement. Recently, a group of faculty at the college called on school leadership “to resist the administration’s attack on fundamental democratic principles by refusing to ’make a deal' with the administration,” arguing that claims of anti-Semitism are a baseless pretext for political attacks.

“We know that some university leaders hope to protect the future of higher education by negotiating agreements with the Trump administration,” the group wrote. “But consenting to an agreement like Columbia’s will weaken Northwestern and fail to prevent future interference in our mission.”

Northwestern’s troubles have also been compounded by campus turmoil. In April, pro-Palestinian demonstrators erected more than 100 tents on Deering Meadow, prompting Schill to strike an agreement that reduced the encampment to a single tent in exchange for commitments to fund Palestinian scholarships, hire visiting faculty, and provide space for Middle Eastern and Muslim students.

Schill defended the compromise during May testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, telling lawmakers: “We got rid of the major antisemitic event on our campus with no violence.” He also pledged to reconstitute an anti-Semitism task force, review the student code of conduct, and increase security.

But the move left him squeezed between dueling camps. Some Jewish groups and conservative lawmakers accused him of capitulating to protesters and failing to enforce campus rules, while activists said he downplayed their demands and mischaracterized the protests.

In his resignation announcement, Schill said it has been the “highest honor” to lead Northwestern, adding that, in his new role, he looks forward to “continuing to champion higher education, a cornerstone of American society that, despite its imperfections, is more important than ever to our nation’s future.”

White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement that the Trump administration “looks forward to working with the new leadership” at Northwestern.