1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

I am writing to express serious concern about the Trump administration’s increasing efforts to control and restrict the operations of American universities, including their curriculum, faculty, and student expression. Recent statements and executive actions suggesting that the federal government could dictate what is taught, punish schools for political expression, or strip funding based on ideological compliance are deeply disturbing. These moves threaten the core principles of academic freedom and institutional independence that have long defined higher education in this country. Universities must remain places of free inquiry and diverse thought—not tools of political enforcement. Whether it’s targeting DEI programs, punishing campuses for student protest, or implying federal control over curriculum, these actions represent a dangerous shift toward authoritarianism. I urge you to speak out and take legislative action to protect the independence of higher education institutions and the rights of students and faculty across the country. We cannot allow political agendas to dictate what can or cannot be taught in our classrooms.