California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a powerful counter-threat to the Trump administration’s university compact, promising to withdraw state funding from any California institution that signs the “radical agreement.” This move draws a clear battle line in the escalating conflict over academic freedom, pitting the nation’s most populous state against the federal government’s agenda for higher education.
Newsom’s declaration came in response to the White House’s offer to nine universities, including the University of Southern California (USC). The federal proposal would provide substantial grants to schools that agree to promote conservative ideas, ban race-conscious admissions, and cede significant control over their academic and administrative policies. The governor’s stance puts USC and any other California university in a crossfire, potentially having to choose between federal and state support.
“California will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers and surrender academic freedom,” Newsom stated forcefully. His position frames the White House compact not as an opportunity for reform, but as a betrayal of core academic values. By threatening to pull state funds, Newsom is raising the stakes for university leaders, making it financially perilous to align with the Trump administration’s plan.
This state-level resistance adds a new layer of complexity to the national debate. It demonstrates that the backlash against the federal proposal is not limited to academics and free speech groups but includes powerful political figures who are willing to use their own financial leverage to protect what they see as the integrity of their state’s educational institutions.
The standoff creates a high-stakes political drama. It effectively forces universities to pick a side in a larger ideological war, with devastating financial consequences on either side. Governor Newsom’s bold move ensures that the fight over the future of American universities will be waged not just on campuses, but in the corridors of state and federal power.
Newsom Draws Battle Line: Vows to Defund CA Universities That Accept Trump’s Deal
