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The University of Southern California has rejected a Trump administration compact that offered priority federal research funding in exchange for adopting conservative-aligned campus policies. In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, interim President Beong-Soo Kim warned that tying benefits to the plan would erode free inquiry and academic excellence, even as USC affirmed support for a “vibrant marketplace of ideas.” The proposal, sent Oct. 1 and already declined by MIT and Brown, drew sharp criticism from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who threatened to withhold state funds. The compact includes limits on transgender recognition, foreign enrollment, and admissions criteria.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.