Tantrum-throwing California Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened to pull state funding from colleges that cooperate with the Trump administration.
On Wednesday, the administration sent out voluntary, to-be-signed compacts to elite schools across the country demanding they enact certain policies in exchange for priority access to federal money.
A day after the compacts were sent, Newsom snapped:
IF ANY CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY SIGNS THIS RADICAL AGREEMENT, THEY’LL LOSE BILLIONS IN STATE FUNDING — INCLUDING CAL GRANTS — INSTANTLY.
CALIFORNIA WILL NOT BANKROLL SCHOOLS THAT SELL OUT THEIR STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, RESEARCHERS, AND SURRENDER ACADEMIC FREEDOM. pic.twitter.com/iZhln3rfBM
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 2, 2025
“If any California university signs this radical agreement, they’ll lose billions in state funding – including Cal grants – instantly,” he tweeted. “California will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers, and surrender academic freedom.”
But critics, including the White House, say there’s nothing radical about the compact agreement.
“Our hope is that a lot of schools see that this is highly reasonable,” May Mailman, a senior adviser for special projects at the White House, told The Wall Street Journal.
The Journal notes that the compact simply “demands that schools ban the use of race or sex in hiring and admissions; freeze tuition for five years; cap international undergrad enrollment at 15%; require that applicants take the SAT or a similar test; and quell grade inflation.”
The compact also requires that colleges ensure a “vibrant marketplace of ideas on campus” (meaning no discrimination of conservative ideas) and prohibit employees from expressing political views on behalf of the school except in certain circumstances.
“It seeks to create a more welcoming environment for conservatives, asking colleges to make governance changes and abolish departments that ‘purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas,’” the Journal explains.
“Institutions of higher education are free to develop models and values other than those” specified, but at the expense of certain federal benefits, the compact itself reads.
So far the compact has been offered to nine schools nationwide, including the University of Southern California. The schools were chosen because they are or could be “good actors,” according to Mailman.
“They have a president who is a reformer or a board that has really indicated they are committed to a higher-quality education,” she said.
Newsom isn’t the only Democrat to complain about the compact.
“No self-respecting university should sign on to this proposed compact,” California state Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi told the Los Angeles Times. “Universities will never be able to live down a reputation of selling out their principals of academic freedom and free speech on these enticements of preferential treatment.”
Some so-called professors are upset as well.
“It’s upsetting as a faculty member and a teacher and a product of higher education to see this administration trying to dismantle academic freedom and free speech in such a systematic way,” USC associate professor Devin Griffiths whined.
He added that he’d personally “push hard for our university to forcefully reject this and I would hope that there is space here for the universities that are targeted by this order to take a collective stand.”
Over on X meanwhile, Newsom is being inundated with fierce pushback over his threat to pull state funding:
Newscum calling anything other than himself radical may be the funniest thing I’ve seen all day.
— Tiberious Spock (@tiberious_spock) October 3, 2025
Newsom literally wanted to bring back affirmative action in CA and admit students by race and is talking about radical policies?
— AltAzn (@Alt_Azn) October 3, 2025
Slow clap for Newsom forcing California schools to discriminate, massively hike tuition, and confront speech with violence?
— May Mailman (@MayMailman) October 2, 2025
Your schools are discriminating against white and Asian students. They’re also allowing men to invade girls’ bathrooms.
You really are a disgusting man. Anyone who voted for you has no shame.
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) October 2, 2025
well lookie here. Using the same “bribe” tactics you have been talking shit about. The difference is Trump does it to level playing field and be fair. You do it because you have zero values and will justify any action to fit your narrative.
— kobe247 (@kobe4ever082402) October 3, 2025
— Donna Marie (@sabback) October 3, 2025
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Vivek@bizpacreview.com
V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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