A day after Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding its decision to freeze billions in federal funds, over 180 leaders from higher education institutions across the United States issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the administration's actions aimed at controlling universities.
The statement criticized the government's "political interference" and "overreach," asserting that such actions are "now endangering higher education in America."
The signatories represent a diverse range of colleges and universities, including large public research institutions like the University of Virginia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as smaller private colleges such as Amherst and Kenyon. This wide array of support highlights the perceived threat that the Trump administration poses to academic freedom.
Circulated by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the statement had garnered a total of 187 signatures by Tuesday morning. It emphasizes the necessity of opposing undue government intrusion into the lives of individuals within academic communities.
Many of the university presidents who endorsed the statement, including Alan M. Garber of Harvard, are also facing financial challenges due to the administration's significant cuts to research contracts and grants. Dr. Garber indicated that Harvard chose to sue the administration after it issued demands that included auditing professors for plagiarism and appointing an external overseer to ensure departmental "viewpoint diversity."
Harvard declined to comply with these demands, leading the administration to announce a freeze on $2.2 billion in federal funding.