US universities face mounting pressure under Trump’s second term 

Behind closed doors, other universities have quietly followed suit, sending emissaries to Capitol Hill and initiating damage-control discussions with lawmakers from both parties. More than 50 institutions, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, have hired new lobbyists since Trump’s re-election—many with deep Republican ties. Duke and Wake Forest, for instance, brought on former GOP Senator Richard Burr, while Harvard and Vanderbilt tapped Ballard Partners, a firm with strong links to Trump’s inner circle.

Endowments, aid, and academic freedom at risk 

At the heart of the standoff is a series of proposed financial penalties that could reshape how universities operate. Legislation from Sen. JD Vance and Sen. Tom Cotton would dramatically increase taxes on large university endowments, with some estimates suggesting a one-time tax alone could raise $16.6 billion. Other measures aim to force schools to pay a portion of unpaid federal student loans if graduates default—something higher education officials warn could slash financial aid and limit access.

The stakes are high. Many elite schools rely on federal funding for research, student loans, and grants—sometimes accounting for more than a quarter of their operating budgets. Already, institutions like Harvard and the University of California system have paused hiring as funding uncertainty looms.

Adding to the tension, Trump recently withheld $175 million from the University of Pennsylvania over its past inclusion of a transgender athlete in women’s sports—a warning to other schools that social policy decisions can come with steep fiscal consequences.

A culture war on campus 

The Trump administration’s campaign extends beyond finances. Lawmakers plan to reopen hearings on antisemitism in academia, with several presidents expected to be called before Congress. Memories remain fresh from the explosive 2023 session that cost the leaders of Harvard, UPenn, and MIT their jobs. Universities are also under pressure to shed policies or practices seen as “woke”—from pronoun usage in email signatures to curriculum content.

Faced with mounting pressure, many college presidents are treading carefully. Wesleyan University President Michael Roth is among the few who have publicly challenged the administration, warning that Trump’s agenda amounts to “a war on civil society.” But most institutions are opting for diplomacy over confrontation, even as they fight to protect academic independence.

Navigating a political minefield 

Some universities are working to rebuild bipartisan goodwill. Davidson College, for example, has joined a coalition of liberal arts schools hiring lobbyists for the first time. Davidson President Douglas Hicks recently met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to argue that an endowment tax would undermine financial aid for students. Others, like Vanderbilt and Washington University in St. Louis, are investing in messaging campaigns that emphasise neutrality, avoiding “political ideology” or “a particular vision of social change.”
Still, political calculus remains fraught. Many university officials are counting on red-state allies to help defend research funding or block punitive measures. But with few Republicans in Congress willing to go to bat for higher education, schools are increasingly on their own.

As the Trump administration accelerates its push to rein in the country’s most influential academic institutions, the balance universities must strike—between protecting their core values and adapting to a new political reality—may determine the future of higher education for years to come.