Cutting Class: The Trump Administration’s Crackdown on Educational Federal Funding
In recent months, higher education in the United States has faced unprecedented federal funding cuts. Under directives from President Donald Trump, executive orders and policy changes have withdrawn financial support from numerous universities across the country for a multitude of factors. In looking to further his political agenda, the president has paved the way towards the elimination of research and programs in which students could make groundbreaking discoveries. In undermining educational institutions, the Trump administration has shifted federal funding away from academic development, seemingly with no benefits to other sectors of the country—the cuts accomplish nothing. Though there are immediate consequences of these decisions already being faced by universities and students alike, there are additional long-term repercussions that will be detrimental to the growth of this country.
Due to manufactured budget deficits, universities have begun cutting programs and reducing financial aid packages, both of which have previously relied heavily on federal grants. Additionally, job losses among faculty and administrations have occurred due to the economic strain placed on institutional resources. Universities such as the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan have eliminated their offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in response to federal funding threats. Such upheaval has had severe ripple effects, creating difficulties for many students in navigating individualized programs and initiatives that DEI is affiliated with. Additionally, Johns Hopkins University announced over 2,200 job cuts within the school, impacting the staff and faculty who now fear for their own job security, as well as students who may feel the consequences of less staff to manage programs and courses.
Supplemental to the restrictions being placed on undergraduate institutions, which have already made a noticeable difference in society, is the cutting of federal grants from research initiatives. This has led to the abandonment of many projects and programs, putting a pause on potential breakthroughs in fields of science, medicine, technology, and more. The University of Chicago estimates that it will lose $52 million over the next 12 months due to the over 3,000 National Institute of Health (NIH) grants that were funding research at the university. Many schools received warnings and freezes on the funding they could receive in an attempt from the government to manipulate school administrations to comply with orders to abolish inclusion programs. Brown University was subjected to a freeze on $510 million worth of research funding, while Harvard faces a nearly $9 billion review on federal research grants. Similar situations are seen across the country at the University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, Princeton University, and other institutions. One social science PhD candidate that this author interviewed described how, at their university, the indirect costs have been capped at 15 percent, which greatly impacts grant budgets. They explained that some peers “have been given stop work orders and lost funding on grants, meaning that they lost their original graduate funding source and the university has to fund them through a different avenue.” By forcing universities to reassess their research priorities and financial stability, from medical-based research to the humanities, students struggle to pursue their own intellectual journeys, which may have a future impact on the fiscal success of America.
Though these funding cuts do impact many individuals across schools, it is also a societal issue that will impact the country as a whole for years to come. The reason the United States is able to compete economically on a global scale is due to the country’s investment in human capital. Education fuels innovation, job creation, and GDP growth. By restricting access to quality education, the United States as a whole is then put at risk for stagnation and decline in global economic standing, a result that is contrary to President Trump’s agenda. Major tech hubs and other organizations across the country that have high economic value thrive off of the research that is developed as well as the knowledge future employees gain while attending American universities. Federal funding is not just an investment for college students to thrive; it is an investment into the future of the most lucrative revenue streams in the country. If Americans are no longer qualified to pursue these careers due to the lack of funding for their education, corporations may become forced to outsource jobs or relocate to countries in which there is a strong educational infrastructure.
With a platform that is so concentrated on the economy and with an objective of creating more jobs and enhancing American competitiveness, the executive branch must be aware that investing in education should be a priority, not an afterthought. The president persistently pushes the limits of potential harm to his own country's citizens. He pushes to dismantle the Department of Education altogether to further his efforts within the defunding of academic institutions. President Trump shows blatant disregard for the role that academic institutions play in national prosperity, and his agenda will only worsen the economic state at hand. Without the proper federal funding to enhance education, the president neglects populations of students that have the potential to better the country in the future if they had proper resources. In turn, he is making the conscious action to broaden disparities in educational equality, leaving states and regions at severe disadvantages.
Universities now are obligated to seek alternative funding sources in order to sustain their programs. In doing so, they can look to partner with corporate companies that have a vested interest in fostering an American-based, well-educated workforce. Though it is difficult for universities to reassess their spending priorities in the wake of such depleted funds, it is crucial to ensure that there continues to be a focus on core academia and research functions, maintaining educational excellence despite financial constraints. The social science PhD candidate elaborates in pleading for universities to “continue to push for a halt on stop work orders and continue to fight against the cap on indirect costs.” In this crucial time of need, the universities cannot get silent and shy away from finding a fiscal solution. Just as it is important for universities to rise against these cuts, students must also use their voices to make a change. Students play a crucial role in advocacy for educational rights, and by mobilizing public support, students can fight to get policymakers to reconsider funding priorities.
Though perhaps it will not be as glaringly clear until the future, the defunding of higher education stretches well beyond being an academic issue, creating a crisis that will affect the economic prosperity of the United States as a whole. Education is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right, and this president should not be able to strip students of their legal entitlement to it. Complacency is not an option. Federal mandates targeting institutions of higher education undermine long-lasting national success, and Americans cannot conform to their ideals for fear that worse repercussions would follow. The United States is based on the foundations of being a democracy, so citizens must let their voices be heard. Knowledge, innovation, and opportunity must live on past this present administration. Education is an indispensable pillar of American success, and it deserves to be restored to its rightful place as a priority in public policy.