In April, more than 150 presidents of U.S. colleges and universities signed a statement denouncing the Trump administration’s “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” in American higher education.
“We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight,” they said. “However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live and work on our campuses.”
There’s no question that U.S. President Donald Trump’s growing campaign against American colleges and universities represents a direct intervention into academic governance, using the levers of government funding — such as subsidies and tax-exempt status — as instruments of pressure. Universities, in turn, have responded by invoking the principles of academic freedom and intellectual autonomy.
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