Commerce Department Cuts $4 Million in Funds to Princeton’s Climate Programs

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said that one of the university’s programs ‘fosters fears’ by focusing on alarming climate scenarios.

The Princeton University campus is in Princeton, N.J., on Oct. 8, 2024. Ted Shaffrey/AP Photo

The Commerce Department said on Tuesday that it will cut nearly $4 million in funding to Princeton University’s climate programs it deems are “no longer in keeping” with the Trump administration’s priorities.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick ordered to stop funding three award programs at the university—the Cooperative Institute for Modeling the Earth System, Climate Risks and Interactive Sub-seasonal to Seasonal Predictability, and Advancing Prediction—according to a statement.

Lutnick said those programs are “no longer aligned” with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) current objectives, and ending their funding will lower the cost and size of the federal government.

He stated that the Cooperative Institute for Modeling the Earth System “fosters fears” as it focuses on alarming climate scenarios rather than encouraging rational, balanced discussion among the youth.

The two other programs focused on water availability fluctuation and the potential risks of climate change, including changes to precipitation patterns and sea-level rise.

“Using federal funds to perpetuate these narratives does not align with the priorities of this Administration and such time and resources can be better utilized elsewhere,” the department stated.

The department said it reached that decision after conducting a detailed review of its financial assistance programs to NOAA’s current program objectives.

It added that the review of outstanding cooperative agreements, grant awards, and other financial assistance will continue on an individualized basis “to avoid wasteful governmental spending.”

Both Princeton University and NOAA did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

This comes a week after NASA and the Departments of Defense and Energy suspended dozens of research grants to Princeton University in the wake of the Trump administration’s investigation into campus anti-Semitism.

University President Christopher Eisgruber said in an April 1 email to the campus community that the “full rationale for this action is not yet clear” but affirmed that the university will cooperate with the government in combatting anti-Semitism.

“Princeton University will comply with the law,” Eisgruber stated. “Princeton will also vigorously defend academic freedom and the due process rights of this university.”

Princeton is among the 60 elite higher education institutions currently under federal investigation for anti-Semitism on campuses triggered by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which began after the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, Harvard University said on Tuesday that it plans to borrow $750 million from Wall Street through taxable bonds while its federal funding is under review. Other universities, such as Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania, have also issued large debt offerings earlier this year. Princeton University recently signaled that it may do the same.

Bill Pan contributed to this report.