US academic leaders make united front against Trump’s higher education crackdown
Over 170 university, college, and scholarly society presidents published a joint statement on Tuesday opposing the Trump administration’s treatment of higher education institutions, coming together to speak out after Harvard University said the administration was threatening its independence.
The statement, signed by presidents from such institutions as Princeton, Brown, Harvard, the University of Hawaii, and Connecticut State Community College, criticized what it described as “the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.”
“We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight,” the statement said. “However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the statement.
On April 14, Harvard rejected numerous demands from the administration, which is seeking oversight of Harvard’s student body, faculty, and curriculum in an apparent effort to curb what it perceives as the university’s liberal bias.
Soon after, the administration announced it was freezing $2.3 billion in federal funding to the school. It also threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status and take away its ability to enroll foreign students.
On Monday, Harvard sued the Trump administration to try to force it to end its orders freezing funds and withdraw demands it has made, accusing the federal government of trying to “overhaul Harvard’s governance, control Harvard’s faculty hiring, and dictate what faculty may teach Harvard students” for ideological reasons.
Harvard said in its lawsuit that government attempts to “coerce and control” the university violated the Constitution’s protections for speech. It also accused the government of failing to follow procedures set out under federal civil rights laws.
