{"id":2474566,"date":"2025-08-14T07:35:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T11:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elite-campuses-face-federal-pressure-under-trumps-education-agenda\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T07:40:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T11:40:56","slug":"elite-campuses-face-federal-pressure-under-trumps-education-agenda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elite-campuses-face-federal-pressure-under-trumps-education-agenda\/","title":{"rendered":"Elite campuses face federal pressure under Trump\u2019s education agenda"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Felite-campuses-face-federal-pressure-under-trumps-education-agenda%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2474566&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses how elite universities in the United States are experiencing meaningful changes this fall due to a crackdown on higher education policies initiated by the Trump administration. This campaign has redirected billions of federal research dollars and imposed sweeping cultural and regulatory reforms on campuses. Over the summer break, the administration secured several high-profile enforcement settlements with major universities, involving fines, donations, and mandated policy changes aligned with Trump-era priorities.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Education aims to end what it describes as eroding student rights and lowering academic standards by enforcing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-campus-anti-semitism-skyrockets-even-as-coronavirus-forces-remote-learning\/\" title=\"Report: ... Anti-Semitism Skyrockets Even as Coronavirus Forces Remote Learning\">civil rights laws<\/a> strictly. This includes protecting women&#8217;s sports and private facilities, combating harassment of Jewish students, and ensuring merit-based assessments free from racial or gender preferences. These efforts build on former President Trump&#8217;s executive order denouncing diversity,equity,and inclusion (DEI) policies as harmful and labeling them as &#8220;tyranny.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Republican lawmakers have supported the approach, with some demanding funding cuts for universities that fail to reform.Experts note that this represents a sharp departure from traditional, more gradual federal education policy changes, with direct White House involvement and penalties now being applied.<\/p>\n<p>Key developments include ongoing or concluded settlements with institutions like Harvard, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Wagner College, addressing issues such as antisemitism, discrimination, and gender policy. The administration is also conducting numerous investigations into DEI practices and antisemitism at several prominent universities, with more enforcement actions expected.<\/p>\n<p>Some lawmakers and education leaders have expressed concern over federal interference in university governance, warning it risks undermining institutional independence and democratic principles. Additionally,new legislative measures,such as the Republican-backed One Big gorgeous Bill Act,are reshaping higher education by imposing new borrowing limits,simplifying repayment plans,and holding programs accountable based on graduates&#8217; earnings.<\/p>\n<p>the Trump administration&#8217;s higher education policies are causing a major realignment at elite institutions, emphasizing enforcement of civil rights laws, meritocracy, and accountability, while sparking debate over federal involvement in academic affairs and university autonomy.  <\/p>\n<div id=\"ld-4686-3758\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:14832835450050406,size:[0, 0],id:\"ld-4686-3758\"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.decide.dev\/_js\/ajs.js\";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,\"script\",\"ld-ajs\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump&rsquo;s higher education crackdown reshapes elite campuses as students return<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2203427\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/higher-education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Elite universities\">Elite universities<\/a> are opening their doors this fall amid a drastically altered legal and political landscape, resulting from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Trump administration\">Trump administration<\/a> campaign binding billions in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/3420627\/trump-orders-overhaul-science-funding-blow-establishment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"federal research dollars\">federal research dollars<\/a> to sweeping cultural policy changes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While most students and professors were away over the summer, the administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/3473568\/trump-higher-education-crusade-now-has-its-blueprint\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"notched a string of high-profile enforcement victories\">notched high-profile enforcement victories<\/a>, securing settlements from major universities that combined fines, donations, and policy changes in line with Trump priorities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3498078\/social-security-turns-90-congress-deadline-benefit-cuts\/\">As Social Security turns 90, Congress faces deadline to prevent benefit cuts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3499371\/rob-bresnahan-fiancee-wedding-harassment-campaign\/\">Rob Bresnahan and fiancee targeted with wedding harassment campaign<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3499525\/democrat-calls-ice-terrorist-organization\/\">Democratic congresswoman calls ICE a &lsquo;terrorist organization&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Department of Education spokeswoman Julie Hartman said recent agreements signal &ldquo;the era of eroding students&rsquo; rights and lowering academic standards is coming to an end.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Students are returning this fall with the confidence that their nation&rsquo;s highest leadership will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-attorneys-general-challenge-controversial-eeoc-transgender-guidance\/\" title=\"Republican Attorneys General Challenge Controversial EEOC Transgender Guidance\">enforce civil rights laws<\/a> as written, protecting women&rsquo;s sports and private facilities, defending all students, including Jewish students, from harassment, and ensuring that applicants, students, and faculty are judged on merit, not skin color,&rdquo; Hartman said in a statement provided to the <em>Washington Examiner.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>That approach builds on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2025\/01\/31\/2025-02097\/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"an executive order\">an executive order<\/a> President Donald Trump signed on his second day in office, declaring that &ldquo;institutions of higher education have adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-assembly-passes-constitutional-amendment-to-allow-race-based-programs\/\" title=\"California Assembly approves amendment to permit race-based programs.\">sex-based preferences<\/a> under the guise of so-called &lsquo;diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).&rsquo;&rdquo; In a speech to a joint session of Congress, Trump went further, labeling DEI &ldquo;tyranny.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Republican lawmakers have echoed that message. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), one of Congress&rsquo;s most vocal critics of elite universities, said in a June interview with Newsmax that schools &ldquo;get billions in taxpayer funds&rdquo; and should face cuts for &ldquo;failing to fix themselves,&rdquo; calling the situation a &ldquo;failure of governance.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>That level of direct intervention reflects a sharp break from past practice, according to higher-education analysts. A senior fellow at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aei.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"American Enterprise Institute\">American Enterprise Institute<\/a> and economist specializing in higher-education finance, Beth Akers said Trump&rsquo;s approach marks a dramatic departure from tradition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In the past, changes in federal policy affecting higher ed were rolled out through established processes,&rdquo; she said in an interview with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s happening now is operating outside those normal channels, with direct White House-to-president&rsquo;s-office negotiations and penalties.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Major settlements and ongoing cases<\/h2>\n<p>The administration has made clear that universities unwilling to comply with new federal standards on discrimination, antisemitism, and gender policy could face funding suspensions, public shaming, and costly settlements. Among the most significant developments:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Harvard University &mdash; In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3498556\/newsom-harvard-president-alan-garber-resign\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">advanced talks<\/a> for a settlement worth roughly $500 million in vocational, educational, and research investments in exchange for restoration of suspended federal research grants. Negotiations remain ongoing, but the deal would far exceed the size of the Columbia settlement and avoid a direct government payment.<\/li>\n<li>Columbia University &mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3480587\/columbia-deal-trump-restore-federal-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Reached\">Reached<\/a> a multimillion-dollar agreement in July that includes direct payments to the government, campus antisemitism reforms, and oversight provisions after investigations into alleged violations of Title VI.<\/li>\n<li>University of Pennsylvania &mdash; Agreed to policy changes and monitoring as part of a civil rights settlement addressing allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination.<\/li>\n<li>Brown University &mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3487239\/brown-university-makes-50-million-deal-trump-administration-federal-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Completed a $50 million agreement\">Completed a $50 million agreement<\/a> to restore suspended federal funding, allocate the funds over 10 years to Rhode Island workforce development organizations, commit to enhanced protections for women&rsquo;s sports and intimate spaces, coupled with a pledge to address antisemitism complaints.<\/li>\n<li>Wagner College &mdash; Entered a resolution agreement with the Department of Education, including commitments on campus free expression and nondiscrimination enforcement.<\/li>\n<li>Ongoing investigations &mdash; The Department of Education&rsquo;s Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is investigating more than a dozen institutions. In March, the administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-educations-office-civil-rights-sends-letters-60-universities-under-investigation-antisemitic-discrimination-and-harassment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"sent letters to 60 universities\">sent letters to 60 universities<\/a>, including many of the nation&rsquo;s most prestigious, warning of possible enforcement actions under Title VI for antisemitic discrimination and harassment. The Trump administration has launched&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/office-civil-rights-initiates-title-vi-investigations-institutions-of-higher-education-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">investigations<\/a>&nbsp;into dozens of institutions for their DEI practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Current investigations include high-profile cases at UCLA, Cornell University, Stanford University, and multiple other campuses nationwide. Education Department officials have signaled that more enforcement actions are likely in the coming academic year, raising the prospect of additional multimillion-dollar settlements and intensified federal oversight.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said the fall semester will be a critical test of whether universities take the issue seriously. &ldquo;True, meaningful progress requires colleges and universities to confront antisemitism with clarity and proactively. This must be done in partnership with affected communities. As students return to campus in coming weeks, the Committee will keep a watchful eye on the actions of college administrators to ensure they are protecting the safety of their students,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters of the enforcement drive credit it with producing &ldquo;lasting change&rdquo; on campuses. Angela Morabito, spokesperson for the Defense of Freedom Institute, said the Office for Civil Rights has shown it &ldquo;will take corrective action when men are allowed to invade women&rsquo;s sports and spaces,&rdquo; and argued that recent agreements &ldquo;signal to other schools that sweeping misbehavior under the rug is no longer a tolerable way to operate a university.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In response to reports of a potential Harvard settlement, a group of Harvard alumni in Congress, including Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), sent <a href=\"https:\/\/liccardo.house.gov\/media\/in-the-news\/dems-threaten-investigation-if-harvard-cuts-deal-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">a letter<\/a> warning that such a deal &ldquo;cannot be viewed in isolation&rdquo; and would be seen as &ldquo;part of a broader pattern of attempted interference&rdquo; in the governance of independent institutions. They argued that acquiescing to &ldquo;unjustified political threats&rdquo; would diminish Harvard&rsquo;s standing and erode democratic principles.<\/p>\n<p>Mount Holyoke College President Danielle Holley voiced similar alarm in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/08\/11\/us\/us-universities-trump-administration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">CNN interview<\/a>, saying the federal government&rsquo;s involvement risks extending far beyond any proven violations.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everyone in the United States should be deeply concerned with the idea that our federal government is attempting to run private universities,&rdquo; Holley said.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the settlements and enforcement actions, Akers noted that legislative changes are also reshaping higher education, pointing to the Republican-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which she described as a &ldquo;pretty big game changer&rdquo; for higher education.<\/p>\n<p>The measure imposes new borrowing caps for students and parents, consolidates repayment plans into two options, and creates an accountability system that can strip federal loan eligibility from programs whose graduates earn less than peers without the same credentials.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3498556\/newsom-harvard-president-alan-garber-resign\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"NEWSOM CALLS FOR HARVARD PRESIDENT ALAN GARBER TO RESIGN OVER DEAL WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION\">NEWSOM CALLS FOR HARVARD PRESIDENT ALAN GARBER TO RESIGN OVER DEAL WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >federal student aid remains untouched<\/a> under the new law, Akers said students will still feel the effects of the administration&rsquo;s broader funding decisions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Critics will say this withdrawal of funds will definitely ruin the student experience, and from the other side, you&rsquo;ll hear, &lsquo;No, this is a refocusing of efforts to the things that really matter, preparing students for jobs.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>Marisa Schultz contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2203427\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2203427\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump&#8217;s higher education crackdown reshapes elite campuses<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2474567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25202628821148.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5152,61250,49392,32189,32640],"class_list":["post-2474566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-education","tag-elite-campuses","tag-federal-policy","tag-higher-education","tag-trump-administration"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25202628821148.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2474566"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2474570,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474566\/revisions\/2474570"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2474567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2474566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2474566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2474566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}