Universities are caving to Trump with a stunning speed and scope
SUMMARY
U.S. colleges and universities are swiftly altering policies in response to President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to reshape higher education, targeting perceived progressive biases. Columbia University, facing a $400 million federal funding freeze, is poised to meet Trump’s demands—including banning campus masks and centralizing student discipline—by Thursday’s deadline. The University of California has eliminated diversity statements from hiring, while Dartmouth appointed a former RNC counsel as its top lawyer. Dozens of institutions have scrubbed DEI initiatives, reflecting Trump’s leverage over billions in federal grants. This follows conservative critiques, echoed by Vice President JD Vance, branding universities elitist. The administration has launched probes into 60 schools for antisemitism, 45 for diversity projects, and others for transgender sports policies, with Maine conceding to regain $30 million.
