Nebraska Law Professors, Northwestern Faculty Oppose Trump Education Policies

Faculty at several universities have raised significant concerns about the Trump administration's actions toward higher education, citing threats to academic freedom, research funding, and the rule of law. Professors at the University of Nebraska College of Law urged congressional vigilance, highlighting issues like student visa revocations, lack of due process for immigrants, and retaliation against law firms challenging administration policies. Northwestern faculty criticized restrictions on free speech and executive interference with university affairs, while University of Washington professors warned of an authoritarian shift and increased political coercion over universities. Notre Dame faculty and administration noted federal investigations, funding threats, and visa scrutiny as part of a broader attack on institutional autonomy, opting for a coordinated but cautious response. Cuts to research funding, especially for agencies like the NSF and NIH, were described as shortsighted and harmful to national innovation and health. Across institutions, there is consensus that these federal actions undermine constitutional protections and the traditional independence of American higher education.