The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has become the first US university to formally reject a Trump administration proposal that would tie federal funding to policy changes, including caps on international students and tuition freezes. MIT President Sally Kornbluth announced the decision in a letter to the campus community on Friday, attaching her response to US Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
The proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education was sent to nine institutions, including MIT, Brown University, and the University of Texas at Austin. It demands restrictions such as a five-year tuition freeze, strict gender definitions, and a ban on activities that “belittle” conservative viewpoints. Critics say the administration is using the threat of reduced research funding to pressure elite schools.
In her letter, Kornbluth stated that MIT already meets many of the compact's standards but strongly objects to terms that would compromise academic freedom and institutional independence. She wrote: “Fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.”
The White House has set a 20 October deadline for responses. Most universities have issued cautious statements, with the University of Texas showing some openness while others say they are still reviewing the proposal.
