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, stating that the proposal is "inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."

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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, stating that the proposal is "inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."

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.

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.

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.

The New York Times

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.

BostonGlobe.com

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.

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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 #5126

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.

Business Insider #2507

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.

MIT Organization Chart

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Regarding the Compact

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

Atlantic

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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.

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

The Washington Examiner

The Washington Examiner #

New York Post

New York Post #4577

Trump White House seeks to reward colleges for abiding by its ideological terms

There's an 80% chance that the U.S. federal government will open formal investigations of at least 5 top-50 universities in 2027-2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's an 80% chance that the U.S. federal government will open formal investigations of at least 5 top-50 universities in 2027-2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

MIT Rejects Trump Administration University Compact

MIT Rejects Trump's Administration University Compact

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MIT Rejects Trump Administration University Compact

MIT Rejects Trump's Administration University Compact

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Metaculus Prediction

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