Amid reports that the Trump administration has frozen over $1 billion in federal research funds as a coercive measure to enforce its political agenda, Cornell University has responded forcefully. University leaders, including President Michael Kotlikoff, have publicly defended academic freedom and open discourse in op-eds, while actively seeking clarification from federal officials regarding the stop-work orders and funding cuts.

Cornell University, in negotiations detailed in the newly approved MOU with the City of Ithaca, agreed to amend a key lobbying clause. The revised terms now allow the city to lobby for changes to state and federal laws regarding tax-exempt organizations, a concession aimed at increasing public oversight and democratic accountability.

Cornell Law School's Labor Law Clinic successfully represented Jane Guskin, an employee fired for union-related activities, resulting in a settlement that granted her back and front pay and expunged her disciplinary record. The case, which involved comprehensive legal support including negotiations and witness preparations, underscores the institution's commitment to upholding labor rights.

Cornell Law School hosted the Milstein Symposium on September 26, 2023 at Myron Taylor Hall, featuring prominent First Amendment scholars who discussed the scope and boundaries of free expression and academic freedom. The event addressed concerns about legislative threats to academic freedom and underscored the role of robust free speech in resisting authoritarian interventions.

Cornell Law School's Labor Law Clinic began advising Minneapolis-1 in August 2023 on recommendations to revise the Minneapolis police collective bargaining agreement. The initiative aims to enhance police accountability, transparency, and integrate labor rights with broader civil and racial justice concerns.

In early 2023, Cornell Law School’s Labor Law Clinic successfully settled a case for a fired technology worker. The settlement, achieved after a semester of negotiation, provided the client with six months of combined back and front pay including sales commissions and mandated that the employer update the client’s record to reflect a resignation rather than a termination. This action protected the worker's right to engage in protected concerted activity under the NLRA.