MIT Rejects Trump Administration's Proposed Higher Education Compact

Sat Oct 11 2025 01:35:40 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

MIT's president voices strong opposition against the White House's proposal that ties federal funding to adherence to specific political agendas, citing issues with free speech and institutional independence.

In a decisive letter to the Trump administration, MIT President Sally Kornbluth refused to support a higher education compact that would require universities to align with the administration's political agenda in exchange for federal funding. The proposal has faced backlash from other institutions and free speech advocates, labeling it as coercive and unacceptable. Kornbluth highlighted MIT's commitment to merit-based scientific funding and the importance of institutional autonomy.

WASHINGTON (AP) — MIT President Sally Kornbluth has voiced strong opposition to a White House proposal requiring the university and others to adopt President Trump's political agenda in exchange for favorable federal funding. In her letter to administration officials, Kornbluth expressed concerns over provisions that would limit free speech and undermine the university's independence.

'With respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education,' Kornbluth stated in her letter addressed to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, marking MIT as one of the first institutions to take a firm stand on the issue.

The compact, which has been circulated among other prominent universities, demands commitments related to admissions, women’s sports, and more, promoting a conservative viewpoint within educational institutions. It requires universities to provide feedback by October 20 and finalize decisions by November 21.

Many schools, including the University of Texas system, have remained silent while they review the document, though opposition is brewing among student bodies and faculty members across numerous colleges. Some university leaders have condemned the compact as extortion, with the Tucson city council calling it an unacceptable federal interference.

Even within conservative circles, some view the compact as problematic. Frederick Hess, from the American Enterprise Institute, criticized the request as unfounded in law. Kornbluth, however, indicated that MIT is aligned with some of the compact’s principles, particularly regarding merit-based admissions practices.

Further stipulations proposed by the White House include freezing tuition rates for students and mandating the use of standardized testing while eliminating consideration of race and other characteristics in admissions decisions.

'We freely choose these values because they’re right, and we live by them because they support our mission,' Kornbluth said, reinforcing MIT’s historic commitment to equity and access in education.

This rejection by MIT could signal a critical point for universities facing similar pressures from the government and the larger academic community regarding their fundamental values and independence.