1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

Harvard’s refusal to comply with the Trump administration’s demands—even under threat of losing over $2 billion in federal funding—is a powerful stand for democracy. President Alan Garber said it clearly: no government should decide what a private university can teach, who it can admit, or what it can research. Harvard’s courage shows what leadership looks like when democratic values are under attack (The Crimson, April 2025). This isn’t just about Harvard. The Trump administration is using federal power to force universities like Columbia to fall in line—or face funding cuts. That’s not normal. It’s not democratic. It’s political punishment meant to silence disagreement. Experts and leaders from across the political spectrum are calling it what it is—authoritarian overreach. Even former President Obama called the move unlawful (The Guardian, April 2025). Scholars like Ruth Ben-Ghiat warn that plans like Project 2025 are designed to break down democratic institutions and put more power in the hands of one person. States don’t have to sit back and watch. You can speak out publicly, protect civil rights at the state level, and stop the enforcement of federal rules that go against the Constitution. You can pass laws that defend free speech, education, and the right to protest. You can support lawsuits that fight back. That’s not partisan—it’s patriotic. This country was built on checks and balances, and the states have always been a line of defense against tyranny. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to undo the damage. This is your moment to lead. Stand up for the people you represent and for the country we all believe in.