MIT Declines Federal Funding Proposal Tied to Policy Changes

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has declined a proposal from the Trump administration that offered preferential access to federal funding in exchange for adopting specific policy changes. In a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, MIT President Sally Kornbluth stated that the proposal would "restrict freedom of expression" and is "inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."

The administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" was presented to nine universities, including MIT, and outlined requirements such as capping international student admissions, adopting a binary definition of gender, and using standardized tests for admissions.

Kornbluth emphasized that MIT already employs standardized tests in admissions and is committed to fostering free expression on campus. She noted that the university's international enrollment is approximately 10%, below the proposed cap.

Other institutions approached with the proposal include Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Texas. Responses from these universities are pending.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has warned that any state university accepting the deal would face cuts in state funding, stating, "California will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers, and surrender academic freedom."