1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

Our universities are why the U.S. is the global powerhouse of technological innovation, medical advances, cybersecurity, and defense technology that keeps us safe. The research and the people that come out of them are why the U.S. is the economic engine of the world and the military superpower that we are. Freezing funding and eliminating tax-exempt status over political ideology will only hurt America and Americans. On a related note, reducing funding for and/or eliminating government agencies, such as NIH, that work hand-in-glove with our universities to help strengthen our country and our people will have a devastating impact. If you want to make America weak, poor, and sick, this is the way to do it. To the president: Choose the right path. Preserve funding for our universities. Maintain their tax-exempt status. Stop harassing them and trying to force your ideology on them. Maintain their independence so they can continue to do what they have done for centuries: serve as the intellectual engine that powers this country. To my elected officials in Congress: I call on you to vigorously defend our universities.