Trump Threatens Federal Funding Cuts for Schools Allowing 'Illegal Protests'

President Trump’s announcement has raised constitutional concerns over free speech as critics challenge the lack of clarity on what constitutes an 'illegal protest.'

President Donald Trump announced plans to revoke federal funding from schools and universities that permit what he described as 'illegal protests,' while threatening severe penalties for participants, including arrests and deportations.
Trump’s statement, posted on Truth Social, did not define 'illegal protests,' sparking criticism from free speech advocates and legal experts who argue the measures could violate First Amendment protections.
The announcement follows recent federal scrutiny of Columbia University for alleged failures to address anti-Semitism and campus unrest, with reviews of over $5 billion in federal grants and contracts underway.
Civil rights organizations and free speech groups, including FIRE, have warned that such threats could lead to preemptive censorship by schools and a chilling effect on lawful student activism.
The controversy comes amid broader tensions over student-led protests nationwide, particularly over anti-LGBTQ+ policies, pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and other politically charged issues.

Washington Free Beacon