Once seen as a global beacon for education and research, the United States is now raising alarm bells for potentially setting a dangerous new precedent. A recent report from Scholars at Risk (SAR) suggests that the current administration’s policies are actively eroding academic freedom, effectively creating a blueprint for other nations on “how to dismantle” it.
Robert Quinn, SAR’s executive director, commented in the report, “We are witnessing an unprecedented situation, really as far as I can tell in history, where a global leader of education and research is voluntarily dismantling that which gave it an advantage.”
Mounting Pressure on Campuses
The “Free to Think” report by Scholars at Risk documented approximately 40 distinct incidents in the US during the first half of 2025, all directly infringing upon academic freedom. These troubling events included the abrupt withdrawal of research funding and even the detention and attempted deportation of international scholars based on their political opinions.
The report underscores a significant increase in both executive and legislative actions aimed at undermining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Furthermore, there’s been a tightening of federal control over critical university functions like admissions, faculty hiring, research directions, and curriculum development. This represents a marked shift from 2024, when most such pressures originated at the state and local levels. Following Donald Trump’s re-election, the federal government has clearly taken a more aggressive stance in dictating higher education policy.
A Shrinking Global Space for Academic Freedom
The “Academic Freedom Monitoring Project” documented 395 attacks on higher education personnel and students across 49 countries between mid-2024 and mid-2025. These incidents encompassed a range of repressive actions, from arrests and prosecutions to travel bans, arbitrary dismissals, and even targeted killings.
Beyond the borders of the US, Scholars at Risk highlighted disturbing trends in 15 other nations. For instance, in Bangladesh, student protests against the government were met with brutal force, resulting in an estimated 1,400 fatalities. Similarly, in Serbia, faculty members who voiced support for anti-corruption efforts faced severe repercussions, including the withholding of salaries and institutional funding.
The report starkly concludes that “The space for academic freedom has shrunk at an accelerating pace over the past decade.” It issues a critical warning: even robust democracies are seeing elected officials leverage both legitimate political mechanisms and, at times, unlawful tactics to weaken the autonomy of their universities.
Political Pretexts and Punitive Actions
The ongoing conflict in Gaza and related campus protests have significantly amplified scrutiny on US universities. Scholars at Risk observes that these events are increasingly being used as a justification to penalize students and academics who express views that differ from government stances.
Robert Quinn pointed out that “The pressure on the higher education space has been going on for decades.” Prior to the recent surge of interventions, universities had already faced political opposition regarding subjects like critical race theory and gender studies. However, Quinn emphasized, “there is no question that the administration is using as a bold pretext the allegations of antisemitism centred around the Palestinian issue to justify in many cases extralegal activity to crack down on the space for independent thought.”
The Federal Government’s Assertive Role
The report pinpoints the Trump administration’s return to power as a critical turning point. Within the first 75 days of his new term, over 30 legislative proposals impacting higher education were introduced. Executive orders systematically dismantled existing diversity and gender equity programs. Simultaneously, federal investigations into allegations of antisemitism expanded to more than 60 universities, frequently circumventing standard investigative protocols.
Beyond policy changes, the administration also froze billions of dollars in federal research funding, placed new restrictions on student loans, and tightened eligibility criteria for Pell Grants. Scholars at Risk contends that these actions have severely hampered both the day-to-day operations of academic institutions and students’ ability to access higher education.
International Consequences
The report also draws attention to the global repercussions stemming from US policy adjustments. The cancellation of international student visas, the implementation of more stringent admission requirements for foreign applicants, and substantial reductions in funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have collectively hindered education and research initiatives across vast regions, from Africa to Afghanistan.
For an organization like Scholars at Risk, which traditionally champions the free international exchange of knowledge, these policy shifts represent a significant and concerning departure from past practices.
A Critical Juncture for US Academia
For many decades, American higher education was globally recognized as a gold standard for fostering openness and critical thought. Scholars at Risk now issues a stark warning that these fundamental principles are being progressively undermined from within.
The report implies that if the world’s most influential academic system starts restricting intellectual independence, the ramifications will not be confined to its own borders but will instead reverberate globally, impacting the future of academia worldwide.