The federal government is revoking $4 million in funding from Princeton University this June for focusing on “alarming climate scenarios,” officials announced Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of Commerce said it was pulling three multi-year climate award programs from the Ivy League university after a detailed review. The reason? They didn’t align with the current objectives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a sub-agency of the department.
A spokeswoman for Princeton University didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
One of the awards, the Cooperative Institute for Modeling the Earth System, “promotes exaggerated and implausible climate threats” and contributes to “climate anxiety,” officials said.
“Its focus on alarming climate scenarios fosters fear rather than rational, balanced discussion,” federal officials said. “Additionally, the use of federal funds to support these narratives, including education initiatives aimed at K-12 students, is misaligned with the administration’s priorities.”
The other two awards focus on global warming creating a “significant fluctuation” in the Earth’s water availability and climate change risks, including changes to precipitation patterns and sea-level rise. The third grant also aims to address coastal inundation.
The loss of funding is effective June 30, federal officials said. Ending the award programs will also cut costs and reduce the size of the federal government, officials said.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump’s administration said it paused dozens of Princeton University’s research grants, Axios reported. The university is also among the 60 colleges and universities under federal investigation for allegedly failing to protect its Jewish students from discrimination.
The rescinded $4 million in funding also comes just three weeks after university officials announced they planned to pause most hirings and institute cost-cutting measures in light of the federal government revoking other schools’ funding.
“Like many institutions of U.S. higher education, Princeton University’s operating model relies on a longstanding compact with the federal government, which partners with universities and colleges to produce research, training, and education for the benefit of the country and society,” university officials said in a March 19 memo.
“That model is under profound stress now, as the federal government re-evaluates and pares back its research funding priorities, considers expanding the endowment tax, and steps up scrutiny and restrictions on higher education.”
Stories by Brianna Kudisch
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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.