1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

Universities are under attack. Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University, sites of innovation and medical advances has been attacked to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Right now President Trump has stripped world class innovative research universities of hundreds of millions of dollars for illegal reasons and in violation of the First Amendment. This has to stop. It is politically motivated retaliation. It is illegal. It violates our norms and values of free and open doscourse. It will also kill innovation and cost us jobs. There are appropriate ways to regulate education. Congress can pass a law, working together for an outcome. The president's agencies can use the Administrative Procedures Act to create rules. Individuals can challenge laws in the courts. What is happening however is not a legitimate mechanism for change. Universities in Louisiana will not be exempt from this carnage. Tulane, LSU, Loyola, Dillard, and Xavier are Louisiana's top assets. They educate our students. They attract world class professors and researchers from everywhere. They have advanced professional schools. They prepare doctors, nurses, lawyers, and industry leaders. What will you do to protect your constituents and the people from the state of Louisiana from President Trump's illegal unconstitutional overreach? Do not let the Mad President punish our researchers, doctors, teachers, scientists, and students! We have no king. We are a pluralistic democracy that values education. Step up. Do your job and protect our universities and colleges. Stop Trump. Your constituents need you. History will not look kindly on elected officials who did nothing as knowledge, science, and progress was attacked for politically motivated reasons in violation of the Constitution. As your constituent, and a voter, I expect a reply detailing specifically how you will protect our excellent universities and ensure that the good work they do continues.