Pressures on Education

Federal Funding Cuts by the Trump Administration

Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash

Recently, the Trump Administration warned elite universities that it will cut or pause funding if they do not comply with certain federal policies the administration wants to invoke. In a campaign last year, President Trump said he’d limit funding to schools that push “critical race theory, transgender agendas and other racial, sexual or political content.” The cuts are also due to concerns about these schools “tolerating antisemitism.” This move has sparked strong responses from the universities and discussions about the rights to free speech, immigration and politics in education.

The administration reasons that taxpayer money shouldn’t be used to support universities that promote a “radical agenda.” The most impacted are seven universities, six of which are Ivy League, that have been warned, including Harvard University, Cornell University , the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and more. Critics of the administration pointed out that the task force claiming to combat antisemitism is targeting schools in states that voted Democrat in 2024.

At these universities, many research grants have been frozen. One such instance being Cornell, whose affected grants include “research into new materials for jet engines, large-scale information networks, as well as cancer research.”

Harvard University was investigated due to several pro-Palestinian protests on campus and allegations of antisemitism. As a result, its funding was paused, with demands to also ban face masks, limit protests and stop recognition of certain student organizations. At the University of Pennsylvania, $175 million in funding was suspended over its handling of transgender athlete participation.

While Columbia agreed to comply with demands, putting Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies in new oversight and strengthening protest regulations, Harvard has gone a different route. 

“Medical breakthroughs and social progress benefit all people regardless of political affiliation,” English teacher Lauren Fantle said. “Stifling academic freedom that inhibits critical thinking via fear of censorship or retaliation puts a stop to meaningful contributions that make our country so great.”

Harvard President Alan Garber, a Jewish man himself, responded by saying, “Harvard will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.” In consequence, the government has called off more than $2.2 billion in funding so far.

The university later filed a lawsuit against the administration, accusing it of trying to “leverage to control academic-making.”

These funding cuts impact academic freedom and hinder innovative breakthroughs that benefit society. As legal battles unfold, the future of the autonomy of institutions is uncertain in the face of growing political pressure.

“Americans should be able to converse respectfully, question assumptions, and examine evidence so that knowledge can grow, and society can continue to advance,” Fantle said. “If we want a healthy and thriving democracy, we should ensure that institutions of higher learning continue to be places where ideas are tested, challenged and refined.”