Brown University rejects US education deal over academic freedom concerns. (AI Image)
Brown University has officially turned down a funding offer from the Trump administration, citing serious concerns that the deal would jeopardize academic freedom and the institution’s independence. This proposal, extended to a handful of universities, promised substantial federal financial support in exchange for adherence to specific policy directives.
This move by Brown mirrors an earlier rejection by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) just a week prior. Both prestigious institutions voiced anxieties about the potential for their campus independence and freedom of expression to be undermined by such an agreement, as reported by the Associated Press.
Funding tied to ideological and structural shifts
The White House’s proposal explicitly offered “substantial and meaningful federal grants” to universities willing to sign a compact with several conditions. These included reforms to admissions processes, specific stances on women’s sports, and the dismantling of campus initiatives perceived as restricting conservative perspectives. The administration framed this compact as a way to invigorate the relationship between the federal government and institutions of higher learning, according to the Associated Press.
In a letter addressed to Education Secretary Linda McMahon and other White House officials, Brown University President Christina Paxson formally rejected the proposition. She stated, “I am concerned that the Compact by its nature and by various provisions would restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown’s governance, critically compromising our ability to fulfil our mission.” President Paxson emphasized that while Brown supports certain elements of the proposal, like commitments to affordability and equal opportunity, other conditions were fundamentally at odds with the university’s core principles. This statement was widely quoted by the Associated Press.
Her decision, she further noted, resonated with “the vast majority of Brown stakeholders,” indicating broad support for maintaining institutional independence, as also reported by the Associated Press.
A Look Back: Academic Freedom in Previous Agreements
Interestingly, Brown had previously entered into a distinct agreement with the Trump administration in July. This earlier deal aimed to conclude ongoing federal investigations and recover vital research funding. It involved a $50 million payment to workforce organizations in Rhode Island and mandated adherence to federal definitions of “male” and “female,” the removal of diversity targets in admissions, and renewed collaborations with Israeli academics.
Crucially, unlike the most recent offer, that prior agreement explicitly included a clause safeguarding the university’s academic freedom—a vital protection conspicuously missing from the new proposal, according to the Associated Press.
Other Universities’ Responses: Silence and Hesitation
Brown and MIT were two of just nine institutions initially invited to become founding signatories of this controversial compact. While the University of Texas system expressed that it was “honored to be invited,” most other universities have either remained silent or adopted a cautious approach, as noted by the Associated Press.
On his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump commented that universities aspiring to return to the “pursuit of Truth and Achievement” were welcome to join the compact. He envisioned this as a significant stride towards a “Golden Age of Academic Excellence,” a sentiment also highlighted by the Associated Press.