In response to a White House directive that jeopardizes funding for education and research, universities are gearing up to defend themselves against potential attacks from President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Many institutions are collaborating with Republican lobbying firms and enhancing their influence in Washington. They are adjusting their narratives to minimize political backlash, even as public confrontations with the administration are approached cautiously. This includes symbolically significant moves such as Rutgers University canceling a conference on diversity and inclusion, reflecting the broader concerns prevalent across campuses about heightened scrutiny and political pressures.
While few college presidents are especially eager to spar with Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance in public, schools have been marshaling behind-the-scenes counteroffensives against promises of an onslaught of taxes, funding cuts and regulations.
Many universities have hired powerhouse Republican lobbying firms, hoping to deter policymakers who know it can be good politics to attack higher education.
Rutgers University, for example, announced last week that it would cancel a conference on diversity, equity and inclusion, a focus of the new administration.
There's a concern among a lot of campuses, said Kenneth K. Wong, a professor of education policy at Brown.
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