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Universities Unite Against Trump Administration’s Federal Funding Freezes

Over 400 university leaders have issued a public statement opposing government overreach, while an informal alliance of elite schools strategizes resistance to demands targeting academic autonomy.

Over 150 US universities join Harvard to defend academic freedom from Trump
FILE — Columbia University in New York, on March 31, 2025. A recent group statement showed that the nation’s academic leaders, at first reluctant to oppose President Donald Trump’s moves, are beginning to unite. (Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times)
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Overview

  • More than 400 university leaders signed a public statement condemning the Trump administration’s actions, citing threats to academic independence and federal overreach.
  • An informal coalition of approximately 10 elite universities, primarily in blue states, has formed to privately strategize responses to federal funding freezes and policy demands.
  • The Trump administration has frozen billions in federal research grants and threatened tax-exempt statuses and international student visa programs to pressure compliance with its demands.
  • Key federal demands include oversight of antisemitism investigations, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, admissions practices, and curriculum content.
  • Universities and higher education associations have filed lawsuits challenging the funding cuts, with legal battles ongoing as institutions push back against perceived political interference.