USC rejects Trump education compact over academic freedom concerns

The University of Southern California (USC) has formally declined to participate in a voluntary education initiative put forward by the Trump administration, becoming the fourth prominent academic institution to reject the proposal over fears it would compromise academic freedom.

The Core of the Dispute

In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, USC's interim president, Beong-Soo Kim, argued that tying federal research benefits to the compact would ultimately "undermine the same values of free inquiry and academic excellence that the Compact seeks to promote." The proposed agreement asked universities to adopt specific government views on gender, limit international student enrollment, freeze tuition, and reinstate mandatory standardized test requirements for admissions.

A Broader Coalition of Opposition

The rejection was bolstered by significant internal opposition from USC faculty and staff. This collective action demonstrates the power of a broad university coalition to effect institutional change. The White House defended its proposal, stating that taxpayer-funded universities "should absolutely serve the national interest." However, this stance has been met with sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has urged state schools to refuse the pact.

A Wider National Context

USC, with over 20,000 students, now joins MIT, Brown University, and the University of Pennsylvania in publicly opposing the compact. Since the start of his second term, the Trump administration has adopted a more assertive posture toward higher education, including Ivy League schools, threatening to withdraw government funding if institutions do not align with its policies on hiring and diversity initiatives. Despite the pressure, USC maintains its commitment to fostering a vibrant intellectual environment.