By Molly Finnegan

Read the full letter from universities opposing ‘government intrusion’

Education Apr 22, 2025 4:42 PM EDT

More than 200 college presidents and other officials signed a letter Tuesday [see below] protesting the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” that higher education is facing under the Trump administration. Leaders of some elite private institutions that have been repeatedly targeted by President Donald Trump were among the signers.

“We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses,” the letter, released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, stated.

WATCH: Using funding to ‘force concessions’ threatens institutions, Princeton president says

In his second term, Trump has worked to crack down on any aspect of college life that could be perceived as “DEI,” launched investigations into antisemitism and transgender student athletics on campuses and threatened universities’ federal funding and nonprofit statuses. He has also pledged to dismantle the Department of Education, which historically managed federal funding and student loans, civil rights enforcement and accreditation oversight.

On Monday, Harvard University, a co-signer of Tuesday’s letter, sued the Trump administration for freezing $2.2 billion in grants. The government also demanded a number of reforms and concessions from the Ivy League school, which Harvard rebuffed.

Source Links: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/read-the-full-letter-from-universities-opposing-government-intrusion and see also the Letter Online, https://www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-call-for-constructive-engagement

Editor’s Note: About AAC&U – The American Association of Colleges and Universities is a global membership organization dedicated to advancing the democratic purposes of higher education by promoting equity, innovation, and excellence in liberal education.