Conservative Push Reshapes Public Universities Across Multiple States

The Trump administration's confrontation with Harvard University over federal funding and policy changes has become emblematic of a broader conservative effort to assert political control over higher education across the United States. Republican officials in several states, including Indiana, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, and Idaho, have targeted public universities by reshaping governance structures, replacing trustees with politically aligned appointees, and challenging diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Indiana Governor Mike Braun's removal of alumni-elected trustees at Indiana University and Florida's rejection of a university president despite faculty approval illustrate this growing trend. Critics, such as Indiana University alumnus Ken Beckley, view these moves as government overreach that threatens university independence and academic freedom. These state-level initiatives extend beyond Harvard’s high-profile case, reflecting conservative concerns that colleges are too liberal and burden students with excessive debt, while seeking to influence curricula, faculty tenure, and institutional policies. The campaign began with opposition to critical race theory and has since broadened into comprehensive efforts to reshape university leadership and operations in line with conservative values.