An expanding set of federal compacts negotiated by the Trump administration has seen major research universities accept large financial penalties and policy commitments in return for the release of frozen grants and the closure of federal investigations. Institutions including Northwestern, Columbia and others agreed to sizable payments and behavior‑change commitments; critics argue those settlements sidestep legal findings while imposing oversight that could erode institutional autonomy. University leaders say the agreements restore urgent research funding; faculty and governance bodies warn the deals set troubling precedents for federal influence over hiring, curriculum and admissions. The dispute is prompting broader scrutiny of whether accepting funds under these terms sacrifices long‑term academic independence.