Overview

• The Trump administration has cut billions in federal funding to universities over issues including antisemitism, pro-Palestinian activism, and transgender athlete policies.
• Elite institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton face severe financial strain, with Harvard's $2.2 billion in grants at risk and a lawsuit hearing set for July.
• Many universities have shuttered diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and canceled related courses under pressure from executive orders and funding threats.
• Campus leaders are forming coalitions and mutual defense agreements to collectively negotiate with the administration and resist further federal overreach.
• Experts warn that funding freezes will disrupt critical scientific and medical research, jeopardizing U.S. leadership in innovation and higher education.