University leaders and stakeholders are taking a cautious approach to the Trump administration’s latest efforts to reform higher education, made in an open letter from Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
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The , titled “A National Call to Action to University Presidents and Governing Boards,” came about 10 months after the Trump administration introduced a compact that offered priority research funding access to the universities that agreed to its terms, including a tuition freeze and cap on international student enrollment.
While the compact was widely rejected, the letter – urging institutions to make clear their missions, values and “commitment to serving the American people” in light of the country’s 250th anniversary – is drawing a more measured initial reaction.
“Unlike the compact, which was a gun-to-the-head ultimatum, this is an invitation to a conversation,” Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, told Politico.
What does the Trump administration actually want universities to do? By the end of the year, every postsecondary institution is expected to publicly outline its mission and commitment to “national service” on its website. The new letter does not offer any incentives to universities that follow its requests or punishments to ones that refuse.
“Higher education has drifted from the principles that built up so much public esteem,” wrote McMahon. She pointed to dwindling public trust in higher education: A Gallup poll in June found that just under 4 in 10 Americans, 38%, had “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education. On the flip side, one-quarter of Americans reported “very little” or no confidence.
Jenna Silber Storey of the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank, was involved in conversations leading to McMahon’s letter and applauded the attempt at dialog amid the deep divisions.
“For parties as deeply divided as the Trump administration and America’s leading research universities to enter into conversation in this way is a heartening sign of the progress that remains possible in our politics,” she wrote in a public response.
McMahon described the moment as a “generational opportunity for self-reflection and institutional renewal,” naming , and Washington University as examples of schools that have already acknowledged and vowed to work on the flaws in some of their institutional practices.
Yet some groups suggested that the priorities outlined by the administration are already the focus of attention for university administrators.
“The fact is that colleges and universities are already engaged in much of the work outlined in the Secretary’s Call to Action,” the American Association of Colleges & Universities wrote in a statement. “The questions raised in the Secretary’s Call to Action touch on issues that colleges and universities confront every day – including academic quality, affordability, student success, free expression, research integrity, and workforce preparation.”
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McMahon lists several questions that universities must address as they reflect on their missions and policies. The “opacity of university admissions” is the first issue, according to the letter, and institutions should “ensure admissions decisions are based on merit” to avoid “illegal discrimination” under the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban.
The secretary promoted freedom of speech and the “marketplace of ideas” also mentioned in the compact, encouraging debate and opposing viewpoints “to advance learning and prepare students for the duties of citizenship.” The administration asked universities how they would protect students and campus operations from the harassment of “unruly and violent” protesters.
Affordability is another central issue in the national conversation about higher education. The public is becoming more skeptical about the value, or return on investment, of a postsecondary degree as costs skyrocket – some above $100,000. McMahon asked schools to improve cost transparency and lower student loans.
DeRionne Pollard, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, noted that many of the criticisms the secretary had don’t apply to her sector.
“We are open access, have affordable tuition and fees, sustain tight connections to business needs and are deeply trusted in our communities. Economic mobility for our graduates is a top priority,” Pollard said in a statement.
While the Trump administration generally supports the rise of artificial intelligence, the letter takes a critical stance on AI, claiming it has “upended traditional methods of teaching and assessing student learning.” McMahon called for institutions to “incentivize rigor in the age of AI” and control grade inflation.
McMahon’s letter also asked university leaders to “ensure that the research enterprise is oriented toward advancing the U.S. national interest – not our adversaries’.” Institutions are expected to refuse any foreign influence.
The Trump administration recently admitted it canceled almost 300 federal research grants “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state,” targeting states that voted against Trump in 2024 and had two Democratic senators, according to . The administration has also targeted research initiatives it deems related to diversity, equity and inclusion principles.
Ross A. Mugler, president and CEO of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, said the priorities outlined by the education secretary are “shared goals” but that institutions must be given autonomy to implement them.
“It is vital that we protect these principles to ensure reforms are shaped by fiduciary responsibility and the long-term interest of our institutions and their students, not by political coercion,” Mugler said in a statement.
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