Newsom vows to pull state funding from California colleges that sign Trump’s compact
Ben Unglesbee
October 3, 2025
A proposed agreement sent to nine institutions would give them priority for federal research funding in exchange for sweeping policy changes.
Dive Brief:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday threatened to pull state funding from colleges that signed a proposed compact from the Trump administration seeking to impose sweeping policy changes in return for priority in research funding.
“If any California university signs this radical agreement, they’ll lose billions in state funding,” Newsom said in a statement. “California will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers, and surrender academic freedom.”
First reported by the Wall Street Journal, federal officials offered the compact to the University of Southern California and eight other high-profile research universities this week.
