In a joint statement released Tuesday, more than 100 American institutions and colleges—including Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Brown, MIT, Cornell, and Tufts—denounced President Trump’s “political interference” in the country’s educational system.
The action was taken a day after Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, which first declared a $2.2 billion funding freeze and then hinted at plans to halt an additional $1 billion in grants.
Following weeks of escalation, the administration took these actions against Harvard, which had refused to reform several of the school’s rules and leadership, including auditing the staff and student body for “viewpoint diversity.”
“We speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education,” as per the Tuesday’s letter.
We do not reject proper government monitoring, and we are receptive to constructive reform.
The statement added, “We must reject the coercive use of public research funding, but we must oppose undue government intrusion.”
Mr. Trump has attempted to oust a number of esteemed universities due to allegations that they allowed antisemitism on campus, endangering their tax-exempt status, budgets, and ability to accept international students.
The institutions and colleges pledged in the letter to act as hubs where “faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.”
“America’s colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy,” the letter states.
“The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society. On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.”
In his conflicts with academic institutions, Mr. Trump has threatened to sever government funding to institutions other than Harvard because of their staff and student diversity initiatives.
Additionally, the president has waged a broad crackdown on immigration that has been extended to international students.
The White House has openly defended its effort by claiming that it is a response to unchecked “antisemitism” and a desire to undo diversity initiatives that were designed to redress the past mistreatment of minorities.
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Last year, antisemitism was rampant during demonstrations against Israel’s war in Gaza that swept over American college campuses, according to the administration.
Due to the accusations at the time, a number of American universities, including Harvard, clamped down on the demonstrations.
Several major universities, including Columbia University, have also surrendered to requests from the Trump administration, which feels the educational elite is too leftist.
