WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) – In a shift from its previous approach of pressuring U.S. colleges and universities to align with its ideological views, the Trump administration is now trying to incentivize compliance through financial rewards.
Academic freedom advocates argue that this strategy reveals the administration’s ongoing desire to exert excessive control over the nation’s premier higher education institutions.
This past Wednesday, the White House circulated a memo entitled “A Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” to nine prestigious American universities, outlining criteria that would allow these institutions to receive preferential federal funding. The proposed policies include limiting international undergraduate student enrollment to 15%, prohibiting race and gender considerations in hiring and admissions, and defining gender strictly based on biological factors.
The memo outlines ten key points, including a recommendation to consider the Classic Learning Test, which is favored by some conservatives, as an alternative entrance exam option alongside the SAT and ACT. It also suggests “transforming or eliminating institutional entities that intentionally harm, belittle, or instigate violence against conservative ideologies.”
Since taking office in January, President Trump and his administration have targeted what they perceive as liberal strongholds across education, law, media, politics, and local government.
Efforts to regulate colleges and universities have focused on various contentious topics including pro-Palestinian protests related to the conflict involving U.S. ally Israel, policies surrounding transgender individuals, environmental initiatives, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. However, attempts to withdraw federal funding from institutions such as Harvard and the University of California, Los Angeles for allegedly promoting “radical left” principles have faced legal challenges.
Schools that do not align with the memo’s outlined principles may “forgo federal benefits,” while those that comply could reap rewards, according to the memo.
“It appears that [the administration] is adopting a carrot approach, but embedded within this carrot is a stick,” commented Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, an organization that opposes the administration’s initiatives.
Wolfson’s group, along with the American Federation of Teachers, released a joint statement urging the nine universities to reject the White House’s proposals, likening them to a “loyalty oath.”
Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, expressed concern that “a government capable of rewarding colleges and universities for favored speech today could just as easily punish them for disfavored speech tomorrow.”
UNIVERSITIES IN THE HOT SEAT
The White House did not reply to inquiries about the memo. An official confirmed that requests were sent to Vanderbilt University, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Texas, the University of Arizona, Brown University, and the University of Virginia for their agreement and feedback.
The universities of Southern California and Virginia indicated to Reuters that they are still reviewing the White House’s memo. Meanwhile, the University of Texas expressed an “enthusiastic” readiness to collaborate with the administration on its outlined requirements.
Institutions that agree to the memo’s stipulations will need to hire an independent auditor to assess their compliance, with results subject to review by the Trump Justice Department.
