Trump Administration Issues Funding Ultimatum to Nine Top U.S. Universities

The Trump administration has issued a 10-point "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" demanding that nine elite U.S. universities adopt conservative policies on issues such as tuition freezes, caps on international student enrollment, strict gender definitions excluding transgender individuals, and banning policies that "punish" conservative views to retain federal funding. The administration ties priority access to federal grants and funding to compliance with this compact, aiming to reshape higher education nationwide according to its political priorities. California Governor Gavin Newsom responded by threatening to withdraw billions in state funding from any university that signs the compact, framing it as a loss of academic freedom. The compact also requires universities to adjust governance structures to prevent discrimination against conservative ideas and mandates sharing foreign student information with federal agencies, raising concerns about privacy and due process. Universities targeted include prestigious institutions like MIT, Brown, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania, which face backlash from faculty, students, and potential legal challenges if they comply. The standoff highlights a broader conflict between federal and state authorities over the control of academic freedom and campus policies.