Who loses when Trump cuts funding to universities?

Summary

Summary of NPR's "Consider This" Episode: "Who Loses When Trump Cuts Funding to Universities?"

Release Date: April 2, 2025

In this episode of NPR's "Consider This," host Ilsa Chang delves into the implications of the Trump administration's decision to cut federal funding to prestigious universities. The discussion explores the broader impact on academic freedom, research advancements, student support, and the potential long-term consequences for higher education in the United States.

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Federal Funding Cuts: An Overview

The episode begins with Ilsa Chang outlining the gravity of the federal government's decision to withhold or threaten to withhold substantial funds from renowned institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and Harvard University. A staggering figure of $8.7 billion is cited as the amount under scrutiny, primarily due to allegations that these universities have failed to adequately address antisemitism on their campuses.

Ilsa Chang highlights:
"These are just some examples of the money that the federal government has withheld or is threatening to withhold from various colleges and universities..." [00:00]

Jason Stanley's Perspective: Academic Freedom Under Threat

Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley offers a critical view of the administration's actions, framing them as a direct assault on academic freedom. He argues that the use of federal funds as leverage undermines the integrity of educational institutions and stifles open discourse.

Jason Stanley asserts:
"The federal government, this fascist regime, has figured out a way to target funds to universities. And what we're seeing are democratic institutions across the United States, including universities, capitulate to these demands." [00:57]

Stanley's concerns are so profound that he has chosen to leave Yale and the United States altogether, accepting a position at the University of Toronto to continue his work in a more supportive environment.

He further elaborates:
"You can't win a war unless you recognize it's a war. This way, they're going to pick us off one by one. And history is watching here." [01:13]

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel's Insights: The Broad Impact of Funding Cuts

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania and former official under the Obama administration, provides a comprehensive analysis of how these funding cuts extend beyond individual universities.

Dr. Emanuel explains:
"Since 2000...there's been CRISPR technology to change genes...CAR T therapy for cancers...gene therapy, there's MRNA vaccines..." [04:48]

He underscores that federal funds have been instrumental in fostering groundbreaking research and technological advancements that benefit society at large. Additionally, these funds support student grants and loans, making higher education accessible to those from less affluent backgrounds.

Addressing the administration's rationale, Dr. Emanuel points out the disconnect in targeting funds for combating antisemitism, emphasizing that such measures could inadvertently hinder critical areas like cancer research.

He comments:
"First of all, you're taking funding from cancer research because you claim that they're not combating antisemitism enough... This money... supports local economies, the community that lives around these universities." [07:29]

Furthermore, Dr. Emanuel challenges the administration's stance by highlighting the substantial endowments of institutions like Harvard, clarifying that these funds are often earmarked for specific purposes, including supporting students who require financial assistance.

Impact of Funding Cuts: Beyond the Campuses

The episode underscores that the repercussions of cutting federal funding extend well beyond the universities themselves. According to Dr. Emanuel, reduced funding jeopardizes not only academic research but also the economic stability of communities surrounding these institutions. Moreover, the withdrawal of grants and loans threatens to limit educational opportunities for students, potentially exacerbating socio-economic disparities.

Ilsha Chang notes:
"The dollar amounts being scrutinized and withheld from colleges and universities represent decades of partnership between academia and the federal government. But that money is used for purposes that stretch far beyond the classrooms on college campuses." [03:59]

Conclusion: A Call to Protect Higher Education

The episode concludes with a somber reflection on the administration's actions, likening them to historical tactics used by oppressive regimes to undermine educational and democratic institutions. Both Jason Stanley and Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel emphasize the necessity for universities to stand firm in defending academic freedom and continue their vital roles in research, education, and societal advancement.

Ilsa Chang summarizes:
"Some educators say the administration's moves to cut funding at colleges and universities amount to a war on higher education. But the loss of those funds will be felt far beyond the college campuses." [02:20]

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Key Takeaways:

• Federal Funding as Leverage: The Trump administration's decision to cut funds is perceived as a strategic move to pressure universities into compliance, raising concerns about the erosion of academic independence.

• Impact on Research and Innovation: Federal grants have been pivotal in facilitating significant scientific and medical breakthroughs. Reductions in funding threaten to stall progress in critical fields.

• Student Support and Accessibility: Federal loans and grants play a crucial role in making higher education accessible to a diverse student body. Cuts could limit opportunities for underprivileged students.

• Economic Implications: Universities contribute significantly to local economies. Financial constraints on these institutions may have broader economic repercussions.

• Historical Parallels: The tactics employed by the administration draw unsettling comparisons to oppressive regimes that historically targeted educational institutions to consolidate power.

This episode of "Consider This" offers a compelling exploration of the multifaceted effects of federal funding cuts to universities, highlighting the indispensable role these institutions play in advancing knowledge, supporting communities, and fostering innovation.

Transcript

[Ilsa Chang]

8.7 billion 400 million 175 million. These are just some examples of the money that the federal government has withheld or is threatening to withhold from various colleges and universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and Harvard University. That 8.7 billion dollar figure was announced earlier this week by the Trump administration, which said that it's reviewing federal grants and contracts awarded to Harvard because Harvard has not done enough to curb antisemitism on campus. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon explained the bold actions on News Nation last month.

[Jason Stanley]

This is not a question of free speech. This is a question of violence on campus. This is a question of students being afraid to go to class or to walk around campus, Jewish students who are just really being discriminated against.

[Ilsa Chang]

But Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley sees something else happening with these threats over money.

[Jason Stanley]

The federal government, this fascist regime, has figured out a way to target funds to universities. And what we're seeing are democratic institutions across the United States, including universities, capitulate to these demands.

[Ilsa Chang]

Stanley believes that ultimatums tied to federal funding are such a threat to academic freedom that he's leaving Yale University and the United States altogether to teach American studies at the University of Toronto.

[Jason Stanley]

You can't win a war unless you recognize it's a war. This way, they're going to pick us off one by one. And history is watching here. If universities want to fight antisemitism, they need to stand up and say, no, we are not threats to American Jews. You are threatening American Jews. What's happening is like what Stalin did in the Soviet Union, setting up large groups of people for popular.

[Ilsa Chang]

Stanley is also the author of two books on fascism, and he says he sees that whole history as a cautionary tale. Here it's played into his decision to leave.

[Jason Stanley]

My work over the last decade has been calling attention to the rise of fascism in the United States. And you can only write so much. At some point, you have to do something.

[Ilsa Chang]

Consider this. Some educators say the administration's moves to cut funding at colleges and universities amount to a war on higher education. But the loss of those funds will be felt far beyond the college campuses. From npr, I'm Ilsa Chang.

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[Ilsa Chang]

It's Consider this from npr. The dollar amounts being scrutinized and withheld from colleges and universities represent decades of partnership between academia and the federal government. But that money is used for purposes that stretch far beyond the classrooms on college campuses. Earlier this week, Harvard's president Alan Garber said the administrative administration's cuts would, quote, halt life saving research and imperil important scientific research and innovation. For more insight on the areas of work these cuts could affect, I spoke with Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania. He also served under the Obama administration. And we should also note he is the father of Gabriella Emmanuel, who is with NPR's Science Desk.

[Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel]

Since 2000, which was the end of the Human Genome Project, there have been five major advances in biology, sort of platform advances. There's been CRISPR technology to change genes. There's been CAR T therapy for cancers, there's been gene therapy, there's MRNA vaccines, and now there's these GLP1, anti obesity, anti diabetes drugs. All of them, all five of them were really born in labs, in universities and medical schools, one in part with Denmark, American universities, all of that kind of novel breakthroughs that really help people, right?

This money, it's not just for research.

[Ilsa Chang]

It's also for grants and loans to students.

[Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel]

It also supports local economies, the community that lives around these universities. But let me ask you this, if I may push back a little. Harvard has the largest academic endowment in the world. Like in 2024, it was valued at more than 53 billion DOL. I imagine there are a lot of people out there who might be wondering why do schools like that need so much money from the federal government to begin with?

So look, we have an endowment. And first of all, it's not an endowment, it's multiple little endowments, an endowment for this professorship or that research. Most of that money is focused on very specific areas that the donor wanted. That's the first thing the second thing is a large part of those endowments are used to support students who, whose families cannot afford to go to the university and are given full scholarships or partial scholarships. For example, every student at Penn whose family doesn't make $75,000 or more is given a full scholarship that's worth $92,000. And that part of the endowment goes to support. That part of the endowment goes to support other research initiatives, whether we're looking at new historical research, new scientific research, new research in economics. That's a large part of what the endowments do. And we can only use about 3 to 4% of the value that's accrued every year. So you might say, oh, it's $50 billion, but 3% of $50 billion is only $1.5 billion, and that's to support a very, very large organization at Harvard.

Well, the Trump administration says that it is yanking money from many of these universities, though not from all of them, because of what it sees as a failure to combat antisemitism on campuses. Why can't the federal government use funding as leverage to address antisemitism?

First of all, you're taking funding from cancer research because you claim that they're not combating antisemitism enough. That's not, if you're Jewish, that's not going to be a good look, and that's not going to be something that is going to be favorable. The second thing I would say is they're not related and you're putting pressure on the university. Doesn't mean that they're not addressing antisemitism. The important thing is to hold them accountable for antisemitism by holding them accountable for antisemitism. What they're doing to combat that on campus, I agree. Not all of our universities did a great job on antisemitism. I think that's a fig leaf for what they're really trying to do, which is bring down universities.

[Ilsa Chang]

That was Dr. Zeke Emanuel of the University of Pennsylvania. This episode was produced by Elena Burnett and edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun from npr. It's Consider this. I'm Ilsa Chang.

[Tanya Moseley]

This is Tanya Moseley, co host of Fresh Air. Amanda Knox spent nearly four years in prison for a murder she did not commit. When she was exonerated, she made an unusual decision to befriend the prosecutor who argued for her guilt. Maybe he could help her make sense of her case. I spent years thinking about it and trying to understand it until I realized.

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[Tanya Moseley]

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