College leaders defy Trump administration in funding dispute

DDM News

(DDM) – A small number of US college leaders are continuing to challenge the Trump administration over its campaign targeting elite higher education institutions, despite growing pressure and recent settlements by some prominent schools.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth is among the few still speaking out publicly against the federal push.

The administration’s months-long battle with universities has focused on issues such as diversity initiatives, support for transgender athletes, and responses to pro-Palestinian protests.

In recent months, several high-profile schools have opted for settlement agreements, avoiding prolonged confrontation with the White House.

However, Roth argues that too many institutions have chosen silence over advocacy.

“I don’t know how many calls you have to make to get one university president to call you back,” Roth told CNN.

He said he can name the number of engaged leaders “on one hand,” suggesting most are intentionally avoiding public conflict.

The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened to pull federal funding from universities it accuses of failing to comply with new directives.

Critics say the policies are politically motivated, undermining academic freedom and targeting institutions seen as liberal-leaning.

Supporters within the administration argue that they are enforcing accountability, ensuring schools align with federal standards on free speech, political neutrality, and equal treatment.

This clash between higher education leaders and Washington is part of a broader debate over the role of universities in American public life.

Historically, elite institutions have been active participants in political discourse, defending their autonomy against external interference.

Yet the current political climate has made such stances riskier, especially when federal funding for research and student aid is at stake.

The administration’s stance has also drawn attention to campus policies on controversial topics, with conservative lawmakers accusing universities of allowing discriminatory practices under the guise of diversity.

At the same time, student activists have continued to push for stronger inclusion measures and campus responses to global political crises, including the Israel-Palestine conflict.

University leaders who remain vocal, like Roth, say silence will only embolden further encroachment on academic freedoms.

They stress that this is not merely a political fight but a fundamental question about the independence of American higher education.

As the dispute intensifies, legal experts warn that ongoing settlements may create a precedent, making it harder for universities to resist future political directives.

For now, the battle lines remain sharply drawn between a shrinking group of outspoken university leaders and a federal administration determined to reshape the culture of elite education.

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