
Trump Proposes Defunding Universities Amid Financial and Political Tensions
Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to defund universities he deems 'woke', specifically targeting Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. This move comes amidst a broader financial and political crisis affecting higher education institutions across the U.S., as reported by The New York Times. The proposal has sparked significant debate over the role of government funding in education and the implications of political influence in academic settings.
The Wall Street Journal highlighted that universities have increasingly turned to lobbyists to secure federal funding, a strategy that might be jeopardized by Trump's new policy. Critics argue that such defunding could exacerbate the financial struggles many universities face, particularly in the wake of debates over affirmative action and other politically charged issues.
Amid these tensions, a lighter note was struck by The Seattle Times, which reported on the federal government's investment in canine research, a topic that, while unrelated to the university funding crisis, underscores the diverse areas where federal dollars are allocated.