White House Offers Funding Incentives to Colleges with Political Alignment

Thu Oct 16 2025 22:21:11 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The White House has proposed a new 'Compact for Academic Excellence' that incentivizes major universities to align with specific political priorities, including admissions policies and free speech standards, in exchange for better access to federal funding.

Nine select universities, including prestigious institutions like MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, are being asked to sign a compact committing to a range of political priorities set forth by the Trump administration. In return, these institutions could secure prioritized access to federal grants and involvement in White House discussions. The compact outlines directives on admissions criteria, international student caps, and the promotion of free speech on campuses, alongside potential penalties for non-compliance.

In a controversial move, the White House has approached nine prominent universities asking them to commit to its political agenda through a proposed 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education'. Schools that sign the agreement would be positioned for more favorable access to federal funding.

The compact requests that universities adopt the administration's stance on critical issues like admissions processes, women's sports, and the promotion of free speech. Colleges signing on would enjoy priority access to federal grants and invitations to exclusive White House events.

The detailed 10-page agreement also dictates that universities must stop using race and gender in admissions, limit international enrollment, and even stipulate caps on tuition for U.S. students.

These proposals have raised eyebrows, as they leverage federal funding to influence educational governance. Presidents of involved institutions, like the Texas System, express eagerness for the potential funding advantages, while the ramifications of such agreements remain to be seen.