Investigate Trump’s Political Intimidation of Universities

Request for Congressional Hearings on Trump’s Intimidation of Universities I am writing to respectfully urge you to launch an immediate investigation and hold public hearings on the recent efforts by President Donald Trump to intimidate colleges and universities through baseless accusations and threats to cut off federal funding. These actions threaten academic freedom, suppress intellectual inquiry, and set a dangerous precedent for political interference in education. Baseless Accusations Used to Intimidate Trump has repeatedly accused major universities of antisemitism and disorder, despite a lack of substantiated evidence. These accusations appear designed not to protect vulnerable communities, but to punish institutions for perceived political or ideological opposition. Using such pretexts to launch attacks against educational institutions is a misuse of political power. Suppression of Free Thought and Open Discourse Universities are among our most important institutions for the exchange of ideas and advancement of knowledge. Political intimidation chills open debate, discourages dissent, and undermines the foundational principle that ideas must be judged on their merits—not their political alignment. Threats to Federal Funding Undermine Constitutional Principles Threatening to withhold federal research and education funding as a means of coercion violates the spirit of the First Amendment and may contravene constitutional protections against viewpoint discrimination. These funds support critical medical, scientific, and technological advancements that benefit the entire nation. Congress Must Defend Academic Independence I urge you to conduct public hearings that bring this issue to light and reaffirm congressional commitment to the independence of academic institutions. Let us ensure that political leaders do not use their influence to suppress speech or punish institutions of higher learning for ideological reasons. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.