Trump’s Relentless Attacks on Universities
QUICK READ:Trump and his MAGA Congressional allies have used unproven charges of systemic anti-Semitism and “illegal protests” on campus to stifle dissent and try to turn universities into the ideological arm of their authoritarian state-in-the-making. The administration’s unlawful, unprecedented misuse of federal funding and civil rights enforcement authority to undermine academic freedom and free speech on university campuses must be challenged. Congress cannot allow these pernicious attacks to continue.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Creating independent thinkers who challenge inherited orthodoxies and promote democratic values, such as the rule of law, inclusiveness, equity, and environmental justice—an important part of universities’ missions—is an anathema to Trump and his MAGA allies.
While Trump claims to champion the Jewish people, he surrounds himself with antisemites and has publicly trafficked in antisemitic tropes—making it clear that threats to withhold universities’ funding because they insufficiently defended Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests are simply a pretext to chill universities from engaging in speech, teaching and research that don’t align with his views. It’s also no coincidence the 8 Ivy League and 7 other major universities initially targeted are all located in Democratic-voting states
The 1964 Civil Rights Act allows federal funding to be made contingent on avoiding discrimination but prevents using this power to punish critics or interfere with academic freedom and provides for notice, hearings, and narrowly tailored remedies before any funding’s curtailed—due process requirements Trump ignores here and elsewhere.
Equally problematic, universities, like law firms, are too willing to collapse—despite large endowments which could cover lost funding—forgetting that failing to stand up to bullies only empowers mor bullying of you and others. As Columbia University learned, accepting Trump’s deeply intrusive and divisive authoritarian demands on campus policing and academic governance didn’t get reinstatement of the $400 million illegally seized, and Trump’s now threatening to seek legally binding control over Columbia through a consent decree.
Congress cannot let this lawlessness continue.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
SCRIPT FOR Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must: (1) immediately take steps to protect its funding for university research; (2) regularly decry Trump’s refusal to carry out Congressionally-enacted laws and appropriations , reminding him that the only lawful path for a President wishing to change the law is to seek such changes from Congress; (3) explain over-and -over again that Trump is trying to destroy our democracy and all the institutions supporting it, that authoritarians like him need to destroy independent universities to succeed, and that doing so will make the United States like Mussolini’s Italy or Nazi Germany.
FURTHER READING
Trump Has Targeted These Universities. Why?
Trump is targeting US universities as never before. Here are four ways to help them
Trump Is Going After Universities’ Federal Funding. Here’s What to Know.
Trump’s Real Motives in Attacking U.S. Universities
Why Elite Colleges Aren’t Pushing Back on Trump, and Why Silence Is Dangerous
If Powerful Places Like Harvard Don’t Stand Up to Trump, Who Can?
Harvard Professors Sue Trump Administration Over Threat to Cut Funding
Trump’s Fight Against Antisemitism Has Become Fraught for Many Jews
