President Trump’s White House is developing a new funding plan that administration officials say aims to bring U.S. universities in line with Trump administration goals and concerns. The new approach would replace the administration’s current strategy of litigating against universities and pulling their funding en masse, which has faced significant backlash from U.S. scholars and the academic community. Instead, it would reward funding to universities which pledge to adhere to Trump administration orders and priorities.
“Now it’s time to effect change nationwide, not on a one-off basis,” explained a senior White House official quoted by The Washington Post.
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Previously, federal funds were awarded based on academic peer review and scientific merit. Trump’s new system, the details of which are still being worked out, would instead award funds based on how well universities comply with federal orders.
American Council on Education President Ted Mitchell warned against rolling out the new system: “Suddenly, to get a grant, you need to not demonstrate merit, but ideological fealty to a particular set of political viewpoints. That’s not merit. I can’t imagine a university in America that would be supportive of this.”
