Washington University has declined to sign a Trump administration proposal that would condition access to federal funding on universities’ agreement to scale back DEI programs, limit international enrollment and freeze tuition — even as the university continues discussions with federal officials about the plan’s implications.
Chancellor Andrew D. Martin confirmed in a Wednesday message to faculty that the university “won’t sign the proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education … or any document that undermines our mission or our core values, perhaps highest among these our commitment to academic freedom, access, free expression, and research integrity.”
The statement followed earlier comments in which Martin said WashU had accepted an invitation to “participate constructively” in meetings with the Trump administration. He emphasized that participation “does not mean we have endorsed or signed on to the proposal.”
The compact, released Oct. 1, would tie access to federal funding to a series of policy requirements, including restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, limits on international student enrollment, a freeze on tuition for five years and a definition of gender based on “biological processes.” In exchange, universities signing the compact would gain priority consideration for federal research funding, according to some media coverage.
The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that nine institutions were initially asked to respond to the proposal, but the Education Department later opened participation to any college. WashU was among eight universities represented at a White House meeting last week, along with the University of Kansas and Arizona State University, according to Student Life, the university’s independent student newspaper.
Several prominent universities — including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University and the University of Virginia — already have rejected the compact. WashU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors called the proposal a threat to academic freedom, while Gregory Magarian, a constitutional law professor at the university, told Student Life the plan is “unconstitutional” and an attempt to lure universities into suppressing certain viewpoints in exchange for funding.
In his letter to faculty, Martin said WashU’s decision to remain in dialogue with federal officials stems from the university’s belief in maintaining communication between higher education and government.
“We have chosen to participate in this conversation because we have been invited and with the intention of promoting our mission, values, and independence by having our voice at the table,” he wrote. “We stand by that.”
Inside Higher Ed described WashU’s stance as cautious, noting that while Martin’s message amounted to a clear rejection, university officials have avoided labeling it that way publicly. A WashU spokesperson confirmed the email’s authenticity but did not characterize the decision.
The St. Louis Business Journal reported that Martin met virtually with Trump administration leaders last week and reiterated that the university’s participation should not be viewed as an endorsement.
The Trump administration’s push for the compact comes amid heightened debate over political influence in higher education and efforts to restrict DEI initiatives nationwide. WashU’s decision places it among the growing number of research universities declining to sign while continuing to engage with federal officials.