Americast Trump's new plan for America's top universities
Oct 10, 2025
Inez Stepman, a Senior Policy and Legal Analyst at the Independent Women’s Forum, dives into the recent proposal from the Trump administration impacting U.S. universities. She critiques how federal grants could compromise academic freedom in exchange for conformity to new policies addressing elitism and racial bias. The conversation explores the need for merit-based admissions, the lack of true diversity in elite schools, and the influence of campus ideologies on broader society. Inez passionately advocates for reform, challenging the notion that government should dictate academic standards.
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Federal Grants With Policy Strings
- The Compact for Academic Excellence ties federal grants to universities adopting Trump-era priorities like limiting tuition increases and capping international students.
- Anthony Zurcher says the plan aims to shift power and funds toward public and more 'amenable' institutions.
Campus Unrest Opened Political Opportunity
- Anti-Semitism on campus and heated protests after October 7th opened political space for federal pressure on universities.
- Anthony Zurcher notes conservatives used campus incidents to argue institutions failed to protect all students.
Funding Power Threatens Academic Independence
- Academic freedom faces tension when the government uses funding power to demand viewpoint protections and institutional changes.
- Anthony Zurcher warns such leverage could reshape what universities teach and who they hire.
