California Governor Gavin Newsom has warned that he may withdraw state funding from any public or private universities that adopt President Donald Trump’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”
Newsom characterized the compact as linking access to federal funds with what he describes as extreme conservative ideological restrictions. He sent a document detailing this to various universities, noting that it aims to prevent the silencing of conservative voices and to demand full academic freedom.
The document lists ten provisions, partly in response to a perceived lack of action by universities against anti-Semitism.
- Ensuring equal admissions without bias toward race, gender, or other identity factors.
- Maintaining diverse viewpoints and civil discourse to protect free speech.
- No discrimination in hiring teachers or administrative staff.
- Staying neutral on political and social matters, except those directly impacting the institution.
- Protecting the integrity of student grading and addressing grade inflation.
- Equal treatment of all students, recognizing only two biological genders, and preserving women’s spaces in sports and locker rooms.
- Financial accountability; avoiding student debt and providing guidance on educational paths while using donations to support ‘hard science’ majors.
- Minimizing foreign influence by scrutinizing international contributions and assessing foreign students for potentially harmful values.
- Prioritizing American students and allowing religious institutions to use gender preferences.
- Compliance with oversight from an external monitor reporting to the Department of Justice.
Newsom issued his stance specifically toward the University of California regarding the compact.
He has not detailed any provisions that he believes stem from “madness” or conservative ideological constraints.
In response to Newsom’s threats, a spokesperson from the White House noted:
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson has pointed to state policies that support trans girls competing in girls’ sports, suggesting that the governor should focus on the issues he has caused within his state.
“By opposing the compact, Newsom is against efforts to manage rising tuition costs and defend free speech,” Jackson stated, using a nickname favored by Trump for the governor.
The compact was reportedly submitted to the University of Southern California, along with nine other universities throughout the country.
While USC was among those mentioned, it remains unclear whether these are the same universities previously scrutinized for anti-Semitism by a task force from the Trump administration.
