MIT president tells White House she 'cannot support' higher‑ed compact tying funding to Trump priorities
MIT President Sally Kornbluth told Education Secretary Linda McMahon in a letter that MIT "cannot support" the White House's proposed "Compact for Academic Excellence," saying it would constrain free expression and institutional independence and that scientific funding should be awarded on merit. The administration invited nine universities—including Arizona, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Penn, USC, Texas‑Austin, Vanderbilt and Virginia—to sign a compact offering substantial federal grants in exchange for measures such as a five‑year tuition freeze, caps on international undergraduates (15% overall, 5% from any one country), bans on race/sex in hiring and other provisions; responses were mixed, with some schools open to engagement, others critical, and external groups warning of academic‑freedom and legal concerns, as the White House sought feedback by Oct. 20 ahead of a Nov. 21 decision.
Education
Politics
📌 Key Facts
- The White House sent letters asking nine universities — University of Arizona, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, USC, UT Austin (University of Texas), University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt — to consider a “Compact for Academic Excellence” that would offer substantial federal grants to signatories.
- The proposed compact spells out concrete provisions including a five‑year tuition freeze; caps on international undergraduates (15% overall and a 5% cap from any single country); tuition waivers for hard‑science students at schools whose endowment exceeds roughly $2 million per undergraduate; bans on considering race or sex in hiring; and other conditions tied to funding.
- The outreach letter — obtained by media outlets — was signed by White House adviser May Mailman, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Vincent Haley; the administration requested feedback by Oct. 20 with a decision planned for Nov. 21 and indicated there was room for negotiation.
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth formally rejected the compact in a letter to Secretary McMahon and White House officials, saying MIT “cannot support” the proposal because it would limit free expression and institutional independence and that scientific funding should be awarded on merit alone.
- Other invited institutions gave mixed responses: UT System leaders said they were honored to be invited and willing to engage; UVA opened a campus feedback process and said accepting some terms would be “very difficult” while facing warnings from Virginia Senate Democrats about possible funding cuts; Dartmouth and others signaled concerns; Brown’s leadership commented amid a prior July agreement with the White House.
- Critics including the American Association of University Professors urged colleges not to sign, calling it a threat to academic freedom; AEI’s Frederick Hess labeled the compact “profoundly problematic” and legally ungrounded; meanwhile private backers such as Marc Rowan argued outside intervention is needed because higher education governance has “lost its way.”
- Reporters noted that some compact elements are consistent with existing university practices but other provisions would require substantial changes to current policies and governance.
- Local officials have weighed in: Tucson’s mayor and city council formally opposed the compact as unacceptable federal interference affecting the University of Arizona.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
The Trump Rules for Radical Schools
"A Wall Street Journal editorial praises the goal of reining in campus ideological conformity and using federal funding as leverage, but criticizes the White House’s heavy‑handed 'compact' approach as overbearing and potentially counterproductive."
📰 Sources (7)
MIT president rejects proposal to adopt Trump priorities for funding benefits
New information:
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth’s letter explicitly cites concerns that the compact would limit free speech and institutional independence and says funding should be based on merit alone.
- University of Texas System leaders said they were honored UT-Austin was invited to consider the compact.
- University of Virginia leaders opened a campus feedback process and said it would be 'very difficult' to accept certain terms, pledging to be guided by academic freedom and free inquiry.
- Virginia Senate Democratic leaders warned UVA they would consider cutting state funding if the university signs the compact, calling it a 'trap.'
- Tucson’s mayor and city council formally opposed the compact as 'unacceptable' federal interference (affecting the University of Arizona).
- Conservative education analyst Frederick Hess (AEI) criticized the compact as 'profoundly problematic' and 'ungrounded in law.'
- Brown University previously reached a July agreement with the White House to resolve federal investigations; its president, Christina Paxson, commented on the compact on Friday.
MIT president says she 'cannot support' proposal to adopt Trump priorities for funding benefits
New information:
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon and White House officials stating MIT 'cannot support' the compact, citing free-speech and institutional-independence concerns.
- The letter emphasizes MIT’s view that scientific funding should be awarded on merit alone.
- University of Texas system leaders said they were honored UT Austin was invited to consider the compact.
- Tucson’s mayor and city council formally opposed the compact, calling it an 'unacceptable act of federal interference.'
- AEI’s Frederick Hess criticized the compact as 'profoundly problematic' and 'ungrounded in law.'
- AP reiterates the White House timeline: limited feedback by Oct. 20 and a decision by Nov. 21.
MIT Rejects Trump’s Sweeping ‘Compact’ Offering Colleges Funding Advantages
New information:
- MIT formally rejected the White House’s 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education' in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth said the proposal would restrict freedom of expression and the school’s independence, arguing scientific funding should be based on merit alone.
- White House adviser May Mailman said the administration hopes many schools will view the compact as reasonable and indicated room for negotiation with feedback requested by Oct. 20.
- The compact promises 'substantial and meaningful federal grants' for signatories and includes provisions such as a five‑year tuition freeze, a 15% cap on international undergraduates, and bans on race or sex in hiring.
- Other invited schools offered cautious or critical statements: UVA said agreeing to certain provisions would be difficult; Dartmouth signaled concerns, while UT Austin indicated enthusiasm to engage.
- Marc Rowan (Apollo Global Management), who helped draft the compact, argued in a New York Times op‑ed that outside intervention is necessary because higher education governance has 'lost its way.'
How Colleges Stack Up Against Trump’s Sweeping ‘Compact’ Demands
New information:
- WSJ names the nine specific universities the administration solicited for feedback: University of Arizona; Brown University; Dartmouth College; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of Pennsylvania; University of Southern California; University of Texas at Austin; Vanderbilt University; University of Virginia.
- WSJ reports that some elements of the proposed compact are consistent with existing university practices while other elements would require substantial changes to current policies.
Shutdown postpones monthly jobs report. And, Trump dangles a carrot to colleges
New information:
- NPR names MIT and the University of Texas among the nine schools contacted and reports on initial university reactions (UT System Board of Regents said it 'welcomes the new opportunity').
- NPR highlights critics' responses, including the American Association of University Professors urging colleges not to sign the agreement, framing the letters as a free‑speech/academic‑independence concern.
White House asks 9 universities to sign agreement to guarantee funding
New information:
- Identifies the nine recipient universities by name (Arizona, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Penn, USC, Texas, UVA, Vanderbilt).
- Lists concrete compact provisions: 5‑year tuition freeze; 15% cap on foreign undergraduate enrollment; 5% cap of foreign students from any single country; waiver of tuition for hard‑science students where endowment exceeds $2M per undergraduate.
- Names the letter’s signers (May Mailman, Secretary Linda McMahon, Vincent Haley) and confirms CBS News obtained a copy of the letter.