The second administration of Donald Trump has implemented a series of policies that are radically transforming the landscape of higher education in the United States.

RELATED:

U.S. Universities Tighten Rules to Prevent Pro-Palestine Rallies

From cuts to federal funding and the suspension of visas for international students to attacks on academic freedom and the elimination of diversity programs, these measures have sparked intense controversy and jeopardized the autonomy, financial viability, and reputation of American universities.

Immigration Restrictions and Student Visas

New Immigration Policies

Historically, the U.S. has restricted entry for citizens from countries deemed a risk to national security.

In 2025, the Trump administration has expanded these restrictions, imposing total bans on countries such as Myanmar, Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Libya, and Sudan, among others.

Additionally, partial restrictions apply to nations like Venezuela, Cuba, Laos, Togo, and up to 32 others, with threats to expand these lists further if new security or diplomatic concerns arise.

These dynamic forces international students to constantly verify whether their home country is on the State Department’s restricted list before beginning the process of studying at U.S. universities.

Changes to Student Visas

The primary visas for foreign students in the U.S. are:

• F-1 Visa: For academic studies at universities, colleges, private schools, seminaries, and language programs.
• M-1 Visa: For vocational or non-academic studies.
• J-1 Visa: For participants in academic exchange programs.
• H-1B Visa: Does not apply to students but to foreign professionals seeking legal work after graduation.

However, as of July 2025, visa requirements have changed significantly:

• Increased social media scrutiny: All applicants must now maintain public social media profiles to allow the State Department to assess potential threats or hostile views toward the U.S.
• Suspension and revocation of visas: New student visa interviews have been temporarily suspended while stricter admission criteria and surveillance procedures are implemented, particularly targeting Chinese citizens and those countries that U.S. considers suspicious.
• Pressure on universities: The government has urged institutions to limit foreign student enrollment under the threat of budget cuts.

Federal Funding and Oversight

Budget Cuts and Conditional Funding

The Trump administration has pursued deregulation, reallocation of funds, and stricter ideological control over higher education. In 2025, cuts have particularly impacted Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Brown, and Cornell:

• Frozen funds: Over $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard and billions more to other institutions have been frozen.
• Investigations and threats: Seven elite universities have been investigated for alleged tolerance of antisemitic incidents and for implementing diversity and equity policies deemed “radical” by the government, under threat of sanctions and loss of tax exemptions.
• Elimination of research funding: Institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have faced major funding cuts, affecting projects in medicine, science, and technology.

Dismantling the Department of Education

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Trump has pushed to dismantle the Department of Education, proposing to transfer responsibility for education policy to state and local governments. This process, backed by the Republican majority in Congress, aims to reduce federal regulation and eliminate what they call “unnecessary bureaucracy.”

Academic Freedom, Diversity, and the Culture War

Pressure on Free Speech

Trump has tied federal funding to the protection of free speech, accusing universities of censoring conservative voices and promoting progressive or “woke” ideologies, particularly through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

Since 2025, any expression deemed “antisemitic” or anti-American can result in sanctions or loss of federal funding.

Offensive Against Diversity and University Autonomy

The Trump administration views universities as “strongholds of the radical left” and has demanded changes in admissions policies, governance, and faculty hiring.

Additionally, funding for DEI programs has been eliminated, with warnings to withdraw funds from any institution that maintains them.

Impact and Direct Consequences

Threats to Autonomy and Academic Freedom

• Erosion of freedoms: Federal intervention has restricted university independence, undermining academic freedom.
• Program dismantling: Thousands of research programs have been eliminated, potentially delaying scientific and medical advancements and forcing layoffs and operational cuts.

Financial and Demographic Crisis

• Declining enrollment: Projected to drop from 4.2 million (2033) to 3.8 million (2039), threatening the financial stability of many institutions. Since 2020, at least 79 universities have closed or merged.
• Unsustainable student debt: U.S. student debt exceeds $1.69 trillion, with over 52% of graduates underemployed and rising delinquency rates.

Loss of Trust and Polarization

• Public distrust: Confidence in universities has plummeted, only 36% express strong trust, down from 57% a decade ago. While 75% of Democrats view higher education positively, only 37% of Republicans agree.
• Ideological divide: Universities are increasingly seen as progressive enclaves, making them more vulnerable to conservative political agendas.

Skepticism About University Value

• Prohibitive costs: Registration at private universities has risen 41% since 2005, making education inaccessible for many families.
• Low perceived value: Only 22% of Americans believe a college degree justifies its current cost, while over 52% end up in jobs that don’t require their education.

Intimidation and Silence Strategy

• Retaliation: Institutions like ABC, Paramount, and several universities have chosen to negotiate or remain silent under threat of legal or economic reprisals, weakening collective resistance to authoritarian policies.

Long-Term Impacts and Risks

Trump’s education policies are redefining the role of universities in American society. In the short term, immigration restrictions, massive funding cuts, the elimination of diversity programs, and ideological conditioning have created an environment of uncertainty, where financial instability and loss of autonomy threaten institutions’ ability to fulfill their educational, scientific, and civic missions.

The direct consequences are already visible: reduced international enrollment, loss of researchers, shutdown of high-impact projects, and a new brain drain that could weaken U.S. global leadership in innovation and science.

In the long term, this systematic assault on higher education may have irreversible effects. A weakened university sector means diminished capacity to adapt to social and technological challenges, widening inequality and reducing economic mobility.

Moreover, political polarization and declining trust in universities could erode the democratic and cultural foundations of American society, leaving future generations with fewer tools for pluralistic coexistence, critical thinking, and the maintenance of a robust democracy. Ultimately, Trump’s “war” on universities not only tests institutional autonomy but also the very future of knowledge, science, and social cohesion in the United States.

IN THIS ARTICLE