Up First from NPR: "Casualties of Trump’s War on Higher Ed"

Airdate: September 21, 2025
Host: Ayesha Rascoe
Guest: Elissa Nadworny (NPR Higher Education Correspondent)
Theme: In-depth look at the Trump administration’s actions against higher education — including visa crackdowns, federal research funding cuts, political rhetoric, and the cascading impacts on students, universities, researchers, and the broader U.S. economy.

Episode Overview

This Sunday edition of Up First takes a deep dive into the Trump administration’s combative approach toward higher education. Encompassing crackdowns on international student visas, threats and enactment of federal funding withdrawal (especially for research grants), the administration’s rhetoric about “woke” universities, and blame for antisemitism, the episode traces the intended and collateral effects on university communities, local economies, scientific research, and individual families affected by policy shifts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Administration vs. Higher Education

• Rhetoric and Policy:

  • President Trump describes American universities as corrupting youth with “communist” and “anti-American” ideologies and threatens federal support for institutions accused of antisemitism or other perceived biases.
    • “Colleges will and must end the anti-Semitic propaganda or they will lose their accreditation and federal support. No money will go to them if they don’t.” — Trump, [00:52]

• Immediate Actions:

  • Billions in research funding withheld from universities since January.
  • International student visas heavily restricted or suspended, dramatically reducing new international student enrollments.

2. Campus Impacts: The Student Experience

• On-the-Ground Report – University at Buffalo:

  • Large international student population, usually 20% of the student body.
  • This year’s international student orientation colored by anxiety and relief due to visa uncertainty.
  • Student Voices:
    • “For me the main thing is that I got here.” — Daria Tofon, Romania [05:46]
    • “Was the visa process hard? No. Don't ask me about was awful… Uncertainty is crazy. They shut down the embassies. I just prayed so hard to God.” — Karsheti Gugward, India [06:06]
  • Denials and delays led many accepted students to defer or switch to UK universities.

• University Response:

  • Scott Weber, Provost, University at Buffalo:
    • “We take that as a very positive sign that the value of higher education in the United States is still seen as Incredibly strong.” [08:23]
    • The school expects a 15% drop in international students this fall, mostly in graduate and STEM programs — a significant financial hit, as these students pay full tuition.
    • The university compensates by increasing domestic student admissions.

• Narrative Tension:

  • While some see more spots for American students as a positive, Weber insists there is “room for everyone,” denying that international students take spots from U.S. students. [09:41]

3. Ripple Effects: Economic & Innovation Losses

• Broader Trends:

  • National predictions of declines in new international students, with NAFSA (Association of International Educators) estimating up to $7 billion in lost local economic activity and over 60,000 jobs at risk.
    • “The loss of international students will lead to really a significant downturn in innovation and entrepreneurship for the United States, which will have long term impact.” — Fanta Aw, NAFSA [11:10]

• Possible Policy Reversal Signals:

  • After dramatic enrollment drops, Trump hints at wanting to ‘double’ Chinese students in the U.S.:
    • “I like that their students come here. I like that other country's students come here. And you know what would happen if they didn't? Our college system would go to hell very quickly.” — Trump [12:01]

• Financial “Firestorm” on Campuses:

  • Multiple institutions, such as Northwestern and Boston Universities, lay off hundreds due to budget shortfalls caused by the funding crisis.

4. Federal Research Funding Cuts: The Crisis Explained

• Historical Context:

  • The federal government, since WWII, has underwritten university research that led to critical economic drivers (iPhone, GPS, medical breakthroughs). [$180 billion granted to academia in 2021]
    • “The government, university, industry partnership for R&D built the American economy.” — Shailen Jyotishi, New America [15:19]

• Scope and Rationale:

  • Over $10 billion in research grants canceled in the past six months, impacting diverse research from agriculture, cyber security, to medical devices.
  • Administration justifies actions mainly on combating antisemitism; critics call it a pretext for ideological retribution.
    • Many researchers see no connection between their work and political campus controversies.

5. Human Toll: Research Cut Example & Patient Testimony

• Case Study: Dr. Jim Antaki, Cornell University

  • Biomedical engineer developing an artificial heart pump for infants; his DoD grant ($6 million) was canceled, stopping the project and leading to layoffs.
    • “There was a sweeping punishment put upon the university. This is no reason to punish us. We're trying to do good in the world.” — Dr. Antaki [18:27]
    • “It’s heartbreaking and it’s frustrating. I carry in my pocket the prototype of the baby pump … it’s so close to being used to save lives.” [19:15]

• Patient Impact: The Strickland Family

  • 4-year-old Caleb relies on a massive, hospital-bound artificial heart while waiting for a transplant — the very kind of pediatric device Dr. Antaki’s research would advance.
    • “If Caleb could have a portable implant, Caleb could go to the playground... He wouldn't need to be plugged into a wall and he wouldn't be tethered.” — Nora Strickland, Caleb's mom [23:59]
  • Memorable Moment: Caleb names his devices (Taco the pump, Henry the VAD, Broccoli for his IV pole) and navigates daily life within the hospital [22:17].

6. Colleges’ Response: Negotiating with the Administration

• The “Deals” to Restore Funding:

  • Universities like Columbia and Brown have struck deals with the government, which include multi-million-dollar payments and campus policy concessions to get their research funding restored.
    • Columbia: Pays $200 million over 3 years, promises reforms; $1.3 billion in grants unfrozen.
    • Brown: Pays $50 million over 10 years, funds go to RI workforce organizations instead of Treasury [26:00–27:10].

• Vocational Funding Narrative:

  • Trump frames actions as pro-vocational education, but reallocation of funds remains vague. Most U.S. students attend non-elite universities and community colleges, but none of the penalized funds explicitly support these institutions.
    • “Taxing Harvard or canceling research grants at Cornell, that doesn't mean that that money is being redistributed to schools that teach trades.” — Nadworny [27:43]

7. The Changing Value of College

• Public Sentiment:
  • Gallup poll: Only about a third of Americans see a college degree as “very important,” down sharply from a decade ago. This decline cuts across party lines.
• Elite vs. Non-Elite Schools:
  • Less than 2% of all U.S. college students attend elite universities, but these institutions dominate the public and political narrative.
• Demographic Headwinds:
  • Overall college enrollment remains fragile due to demographic trends and waning public confidence, not just policy pressure.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “For me, the main thing is that I got here.” — Daria Tofon, international student, [05:46]
• “We take that as a very positive sign that the value of higher education in the United States is still seen as Incredibly strong.” — Scott Weber, University at Buffalo, [08:23]
• “The loss of international students will lead to really a significant downturn in innovation and entrepreneurship for the United States, which will have long term impact.” — Fanta Aw, NAFSA, [11:10]
• “There was a sweeping punishment put upon the university, and it was across the board, indiscriminately. This is no reason to punish us. We're trying to do good in the world.” — Dr. Jim Antaki, Cornell, [18:27]
• “If Caleb could have a portable implant, … he wouldn't need to be plugged into a wall and he wouldn't be tethered.” — Nora Strickland, mother of 4-year-old Caleb, [23:59]
• “Taxing Harvard or canceling research grants at Cornell, that doesn't mean that that money is being redistributed to schools that teach trades.” — Nadworny, [27:43]
• “Only about a third of US adults surveyed rated the value of a college education as very important. That’s down from 53% in 2019 and 70% in 2013.” — Nadworny, [29:11]

Key Timestamps

• 00:52 – Trump’s threats tying funding/ accreditation to university responses
• 05:46–07:37 – International students at Buffalo describe visa struggles
• 08:21 – University perspective on international enrollment drops
• 11:08 – Economic/innovation risks from shrinking international student numbers
• 14:58 – Federal funding: history and magnitude
• 17:01–18:41 – Justifications and criticism of grant cancellations
• 18:41–19:46 – Dr. Antaki’s story: pediatric heart pump grant loss
• 21:23–24:38 – The Strickland family: real-world stakes of research cuts
• 25:26–27:10 – Universities negotiating with the administration for funding restoration
• 27:43–28:24 – Critique of the narrative “elites vs. trades”
• 29:11–30:41 – Declining public sentiment about the value of college

Overall Tone

NPR’s usual balance between fact, analysis, and empathy. The episode moves expertly from policy and politics to individual stories, highlighting both macro and micro consequences without polemic; the mood is urgent, concerned, and deeply human.

Takeaways

• The Trump administration’s war on “woke” higher ed and antisemitism has prompted unprecedented funding crackdowns and visa barriers, affecting not just elite universities but the entire academic ecosystem.
• International students are deterred by visa uncertainty, leading to financial and intellectual losses for U.S. higher ed and local communities.
• Research funding cuts have a ripple effect, stalling life-saving innovation and devastating both labs and patients.
• Negotiated settlements to reinstate grants raise new questions about academic independence, government leverage, and redistribution of funds.
• The perceived value of a college degree is in decline, and demographic and political pressures portend a challenging future for U.S. institutions.

This summary captures all vital points, discussions, and powerful stories from the episode, providing a clear and engaging resource for listeners or those wanting to quickly understand the issue’s contours and significance.