Northwestern University is reportedly close to an agreement with the White House that would settle a dispute over alleged foreign‑influence issues by paying a roughly $75 million fine and restoring previously curtailed research funding. The move follows pressure campaigns from the current administration that prompted scrutiny of multiple universities' foreign partnerships. Northwestern’s tentative deal, if finalized, would restore federal research streams and resolve a high‑profile policy confrontation between the institution and Washington. The terms under discussion highlight how compliance reviews and political friction have become material risks to research income and university governance.