The administration of former President Donald Trump initiated a series of regulatory and financial measures targeting U.S. higher education institutions, particularly elite universities like Harvard and Columbia. These actions involve cuts to federal research funding, new restrictions on international students, challenges to accreditation status, and proposed changes to tax policies for nonprofit institutions and endowments.
Federal funding cuts
Roughly $11 billion in research grants and contracts were canceled in recent months, affecting more than two dozen universities. These cuts have impacted a wide range of research areas, including healthcare, technology, agriculture, and social sciences. Some cancellations are linked to restructuring within federal agencies, while others are reportedly tied to investigations of campus discrimination.
One major institution has responded with legal action, claiming the funding cuts are retaliatory and infringe on constitutional rights such as freedom of expression.
Restrictions on international students
Recent efforts have sought to limit international students’ entry and continued enrollment at certain universities. This includes the temporary revocation of student visa sponsorship certifications, changes to visa processing timelines, and additional scrutiny based on applicants’ countries of origin or fields of study. National security has been cited as the primary reason behind these actions.
Federal courts have temporarily blocked many of these changes, pending further legal review.
Accreditation challenges
The U.S. Department of Education has issued findings against some institutions, alleging violations of anti-discrimination laws. If accreditation bodies agree, the universities in question could lose eligibility for federal funding. Legal analysts have raised concerns over whether due process has been followed in these cases.
Nonprofit status under scrutiny
Statements have been made regarding the possible removal of tax-exempt status from certain universities. While the authority to revoke such status rests with the IRS, legal restrictions limit how and when this power can be used by the executive branch.
Proposed increase in endowment tax
A proposed bill in Congress seeks to raise taxes on large university endowments using a tiered system based on per-student funding levels. The final details of the legislation are still under negotiation, but some legal experts question whether the tax increase could be challenged as viewpoint discrimination if tied to ideological positions.
