The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Friday rejected an agreement to support U.S. President Donald Trump's higher education agenda in exchange for favorable treatment. MIT President Sally Kornbluth said the proposal threatens free expression and institutional independence.

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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Friday rejected an agreement to support U.S. President Donald Trump's higher education agenda in exchange for favorable treatment. MIT President Sally Kornbluth said the proposal threatens free expression and institutional independence.

This comes after the Trump administration sent a 10-page document, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/trump-offers-universities-federal-grants-for-policy-compact">the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education</a>, to nine universities, offering preferential federal funding in exchange for adopting specific policies and restrictions.

Fox4Kc

Politico

Bloomberg.com

This comes after the Trump administration sent a 10-page document, the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, to nine universities, offering preferential federal funding in exchange for adopting specific policies and restrictions.

The compact requires universities to freeze tuition for five years, limit international student enrollment to 15%, adopt strict gender definitions and eliminate consideration of race or sex in admissions decisions.

BostonGlobe.com

The Hill

The Wall Street Journal

The compact requires universities to freeze tuition for five years, limit international student enrollment to 15%, adopt strict gender definitions and eliminate consideration of race or sex in admissions decisions.

The eight other universities that received the compact include Brown, Dartmouth, the University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, the University of Virginia, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Arizona.

Al Jazeera

The eight other universities that received the compact include Brown, Dartmouth, the University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, the University of Virginia, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Arizona.

White House spokesperson Liz Huston warned that universities that refuse the compact are not serving students but are bowing to radical left-wing bureaucrats. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to cut funding to state schools that sign the compact.

Gavin Newsom

White House spokesperson Liz Huston warned that universities that refuse the compact are not serving students but are bowing to radical left-wing bureaucrats. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to cut funding to state schools that sign the compact.

MIT received $648 million in federal funding for sponsored activities last year and faces potential budget cuts of $300 million due to the new endowment tax and possible loss of federal research funding.

Business Insider

MIT received $648 million in federal funding for sponsored activities last year and faces potential budget cuts of $300 million due to the new endowment tax and possible loss of federal research funding.

The Trump administration sent a 10-page document called the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education to nine universities, offering preferential federal funding in exchange for adopting specific policies and restrictions.</span

Fox4Kc #

Politico #

The Trump administration sent a 10-page document called the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education to nine universities, offering preferential federal funding in exchange for adopting specific policies and restrictions.

MIT President Sally Kornbluth became the first university leader to publicly reject the compact on Friday, stating the proposal includes principles that would restrict freedom of expression and institutional independence.</span

The New York Times #

Instagram #

MIT President Sally Kornbluth became the first university leader to publicly reject the compact on Friday, stating the proposal includes principles that would restrict freedom of expression and institutional independence.

The compact requires universities to freeze tuition for five years, limit international student enrollment to 15 percent, adopt strict gender definitions and eliminate consideration of race or sex in admissions decisions.</span

BostonGlobe.com #

The Hill #

The compact requires universities to freeze tuition for five years, limit international student enrollment to 15 percent, adopt strict gender definitions and eliminate consideration of race or sex in admissions decisions.

The eight other universities that received the compact include Brown, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, University of Virginia, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin and University of Arizona.</span

The eight other universities that received the compact include Brown, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, University of Virginia, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin and University of Arizona.

White House spokesperson Liz Huston responded that universities refusing the compact are not serving students but bowing to radical left-wing bureaucrats, while California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened funding cuts for state schools that sign.</span

White House spokesperson Liz Huston responded that universities refusing the compact are not serving students but bowing to radical left-wing bureaucrats, while California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened funding cuts for state schools that sign.

MIT received $648 million in federal funding for sponsored activities last year and faces potential budget cuts of $300 million due to the new endowment tax and possible loss of federal research funding.</span

MIT's rejection of Trump's education compact represents a principled stand for academic freedom and scientific integrity. The compact would restrict freedom of expression and institutional independence while undermining the merit-based funding that has made America a global leader in science and innovation.

MIT's rejection of Trump's education compact represents a principled stand for academic freedom and scientific integrity. The compact would restrict freedom of expression and institutional independence while undermining the merit-based funding that has made America a global leader in science and innovation.</span

NBC #

MIT is first school to reject Trump administration's agenda in exchange for funding benefits

MIT Organization Chart

MIT Organization Chart #

Regarding the Compact

Trump's higher education compact promotes genuine academic excellence by demanding equality in admissions, protecting free speech for all viewpoints, and fighting antisemitism on campus. Universities opposing this reasonable reform agenda are defending the broken status quo of ideological restrictions and discriminatory practices.

Trump's higher education compact promotes genuine academic excellence by demanding equality in admissions, protecting free speech for all viewpoints, and fighting antisemitism on campus. Universities opposing this reasonable reform agenda are defending the broken status quo of ideological restrictions and discriminatory practices.</span

National Review

National Review #

Is Trump's Higher Education Compact Okay?

Breitbart

Breitbart #872

Newsom Threatens to Cut Funds from Universities that Sign Trump ‘Compact’ for ‘Civil Discourse,’ Fighting Antisemitism

MIT Rejects Trump's University Compact, Faces Funding Cuts

Education

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United States of America

MIT's rejection of Trump's education compact is a principled stand for academic freedom and scientific integrity. The compact would severely restrict freedom of expression and institutional independence, and critically undermine the merit-based funding that has made America a global leader in science and innovation.

MIT's rejection of Trump's education compact is a principled stand for academic freedom and scientific integrity. The compact would severely restrict freedom of expression and institutional independence, and critically undermine the merit-based funding that has made America a global leader in science and innovation.

Atlantic

A Deal That Would End Universities’ Independence

Chris Van Hollen

ChrisVanHollen

Trump's higher education compact promotes genuine academic excellence by demanding equal admissions, protecting free speech for all viewpoints and combating antisemitism on campus. Universities opposing this reasonable reform agenda are defending the broken status quo of ideological restrictions and discriminatory practices.

Trump's higher education compact promotes genuine academic excellence by demanding equal admissions, protecting free speech for all viewpoints and combating antisemitism on campus. Universities opposing this reasonable reform agenda are defending the broken status quo of ideological restrictions and discriminatory practices.

MIT Rejects Trump's University Compact, Faces Funding Cuts

MIT Rejects Trump's University Compact, Faces Funding Cuts

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MIT Rejects Trump's University Compact, Faces Funding Cuts

MIT Rejects Trump's University Compact, Faces Funding Cuts

The Spin

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