The Trump administration has asked US colleges to agree to sweeping terms—including limits on foreign student enrollment, freezing tuition, and ideological alignment of students and staff—in exchange for preferential federal funding, according to a 10-point memo shared by a White House official.
The memo demands universities cap international undergraduate enrollment at 15%, ban consideration of race or sex in hiring and admissions, require standardized testing, and address grade inflation.
Threats Over Protests and Policies
Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for universities over issues such as pro-Palestinian protests, transgender policies, climate initiatives, and diversity programs. Rights advocates warn that the measures threaten free speech and academic freedom. Trump claims universities harbor “anti-American” and anti-conservative values.
Memo Details
The memo encourages viewpoint diversity among faculty, students, and staff, and urges colleges to revise governance structures or dismantle units that allegedly suppress conservative ideas. It also calls for foreign students to support “American and Western values” and asks universities to share disciplinary records of foreign students with federal authorities.
Specific enrollment caps include no more than 15% of undergraduates from the Student Visa Exchange Program, with no more than 5% from any single country. Schools exceeding these limits must meet the caps in incoming classes.
Colleges Contacted
Letters were sent to Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, USC, MIT, University of Texas, University of Arizona, Brown, and University of Virginia. Universities that comply will gain “substantial and meaningful federal grants.” The Justice Department will review adherence, and violations could result in the loss of benefits.
Previous Probes and Settlements
The Trump administration has probed multiple universities, mainly over pro-Palestinian protests. Settlements include Columbia University paying over $220 million and Brown University $50 million to support local workforce development. Harvard may pay $500 million under a potential agreement.
Critics argue the government conflates advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism, a charge denied by many student groups.
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