Over 150 college presidents slam Trump's crackdown on campus autonomy
Trump's war on universities faces backlash from 150 college presidents (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
More than 150 college presidents have signed a collective letter denouncing what they call unprecedented political interference in higher education by the Trump administration, reports NBC News.
The open letter, signed by nearly every Ivy League university president except those from Columbia and Dartmouth, criticizes the administration for leveraging federal research funding to force political compliance.
Organized by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the letter condemns recent moves by the Trump administration to pause billions of dollars in grants to institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton, aiming to pressure them into changing admissions practices and cracking down on student protests.
"As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education," the letter states. "We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses."
Harvard takes legal action as Columbia complies
Harvard University filed a lawsuit on Monday to contest the loss of $2.2 billion in federal grants, rejecting the administration’s demands to shut down diversity, equity and inclusion programs and monitor campus viewpoints.
Columbia University, by contrast, agreed to several federal conditions — including a protest mask ban, third-party oversight of certain departments, and enhanced campus security — which triggered backlash and the resignation of interim president Katrina A. Armstrong.
The letter also condemns the administration’s recent actions against international students, including visa revocations and detentions — especially targeting students from the Middle East involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
Higher education leaders warn that the future of academic freedom and institutional independence in the US is now at serious risk.
International students are increasingly reconsidering their plans to study in the US due to fears of surveillance, travel restrictions, and potential deportation.
