University of Tennessee loses $37M in grant funding amid federal funding cuts.
More than $37 million in grant funding to the University of Tennessee has been terminated. The university system is currently assessing the impacts and determining its next steps.
As of April 9, 2025, the University of Tennessee had received a total of 58 federal grants. Of these grants, 42 have been terminated, six are pending, and only 10 remain active. Although the total funding cut exceeded $51 million, the university had already utilized some of these funds. The $37,655,82 being terminated is what remains unspent.The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture experienced the largest funding cut, with eight grants totaling $37,199,860 being terminated. Of this amount, $31,192,986 was still unspent. The UT-Knoxville campus faced the highest number of grants cut, with 25 grants totaling $7,085,105, of which $2,068,061 remains unspent.
Both UT Health Science Center (UTHSC) and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) each had four grants terminated, amounting to a total of $2,892,331 for UTHSC, with $2,594,101 remaining unspent, and a total of $3,471,192 for UTC, with $1,383,566 remaining unspent. Additionally, one grant for UT Institute of Public Service (UTIPS) was terminated, totaling $698,802, with $419,107 remaining. No grants were cut from the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM), although their only grant is currently pending.
These funding cuts come amid President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce federal funding and eliminate several federal agencies, including USAID, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Department of Education. The University of Tennessee receives funding from each of these agencies, including $4 million from USAID and $421,375 from IMLS, which have all been cut.
