What Higher Ed Learned From 12 Months of Trump 2.0

"College leaders return to campus this term appearing steady and resolved. After a year of tumult, they remain vigilant about more attacks from Washington but are ready to refocus on the other crises knocking at their doors-million-dollar deficits, declining enrollments and AI's disruption. And now that higher ed has gone through nearly 12 months of Trump 2.0, it's learned a few things."

"First, we now know that nothing is sacred. Funding for cancer research? Canceled. Support for colleges serving low-income students? Chopped. Due process? Passed over. The sector was caught off guard by the administration's creativity in its attacks last year, and colleges should continue to expect the unexpected. But in an interview before Christmas, Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Breitbart that her department would "shift a little bit away from higher education" in 2026 and focus more on K-12 reform."

"The year didn't just teach colleges what to expect-it also showed them how to respond. And we've seen that fighting back works. Harvard is holding firm against the administration's pressure to strike a deal and has not publicly conceded anything (though rumors abound an agreement is nigh). George Mason University president Gregory Washington came out swinging when the Department of Education accused him of implementing "unlawful DEI policies" on his campus."

College leaders returned to campus steady and resolved after a tumultuous year and expect further political attacks from Washington while refocusing on internal crises. They face million-dollar deficits, declining enrollments, and disruptions from artificial intelligence. The sector learned that familiar protections—research funding, support for low-income-serving colleges, and due process—can be eliminated, and should expect unexpected tactics. Some leaders fought back successfully: Harvard resisted deal pressure, George Mason's president defended against accusations, and nine institutions declined the White House compact without repercussion. Visibility and campus advocacy are now prioritized as part of institutional responses.

Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs