The American Council on Education (ACE) submitted an amicus brief on 9 June 2025 on behalf of ACPA and 26 other higher education associations in support of institutional autonomy.
The brief responds to an unprecedented move by the United States Executive Branch to freeze federal research funding in retaliation against Harvard University for not yielding to political demands. As the brief outlines, colleges and universities are not arms of the federal government and must remain free to govern themselves, educate their students, and serve their communities without political interference. The Administration’s actions pose a threat not only to Harvard, but to the very foundation of U.S. research and the diverse landscape of higher education. Our ability to foster independent thought, innovate, and educate future leaders depends on defending this long-standing principle.
