As Trump pressures universities, many are bending to his demands regarding diversity programs and free speech. Institutions like Columbia and Johns Hopkins have faced government backlash, resulting in firings and compliance with standards that threaten academic freedom. Federal funding cuts, affecting notable grants and operating budgets, have intensified the fear among campuses of repercussions. The environment has led to preemptive actions, as some schools cancel events and suppress discussions to avoid conflicts, igniting a student and faculty response that frames these actions as violations of First Amendment rights.
As the US government launches investigations and threatens to pull federal funding, some elite universities have decided to take the path of least resistance.
In recent weeks, university administrators at Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and other schools have let the government interfere with entire academic departments.
The Trump administration has warned it will yank funding from institutions that it claims have engaged in racial discrimination in the form of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Universities are largely responding to these attacks by preemptively cracking down on free speech.
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