Project 2025 AGAIN - Ed Martin’s Actions - Threat to Academic Freedom

I write to express my deep concerns about the actions of Ed Martin, the acting U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., and the broader political agenda of the Trump administration’s Project 2025, which threatens the First Amendment and academic freedom. Mr. Martin, who still identifies himself as a personal attorney for President Trump, recently sent a letter to Georgetown Law School demanding the removal of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. He explicitly warned that his office would refuse to hire Georgetown students for jobs, internships, or fellowships unless the school complied with these demands. This is a clear violation of academic freedom and the First Amendment, which protects the right of universities to define their own curricula and educational practices without government interference. As Dean William Treanor of Georgetown pointed out, Martin’s actions attack the university’s mission and its ability to uphold its educational principles. Mr. Martin’s behavior is part of a troubling pattern of political interference and abuses of power. He previously aligned himself with President Trump’s claims of election fraud and has used his office to fire and demote attorneys involved in the investigation of the January 6th Capitol riot. His threats against Georgetown are not isolated but reflect a broader political agenda to silence differing viewpoints and eliminate programs that do not align with a specific ideology. This behavior is consistent with the goals of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint advanced by the Trump administration used to write the majority of Trump’s executive orders and strip Americans of their constitutional rights. Project 2025 seeks to impose political control over U.S. education by promoting only conservative viewpoints, censoring academic content, and dismantling DEI initiatives. Martin’s threats to Georgetown are a direct attempt to force universities to conform to the goals outlined in Project 2025. This undermines the First Amendment and threatens intellectual discourse that is central to higher education in a democratic society. By using his position to coerce educational institutions into adopting a political agenda, Mr. Martin is undermining free speech, academic freedom, and the independence of educational institutions. These rights are critical not just for individual expression but for ensuring that universities remain free from political interference. If allowed to continue, these actions will set a dangerous precedent that could chill free thought and expression across both public and private institutions. I strongly urge Congress to investigate Mr. Martin’s conduct and take action to protect our constitutional rights from future infringements. The First Amendment, the freedom of speech, and the independence of educational institutions must be safeguarded against political interference. Who knows, he may come after you next..