News from Higher Ed | March 2025

President Donald Trump’s deep cuts to essential services threaten millions of Americans—from students and veterans to the elderly and people with disabilities—all to fund tax breaks for billionaires like Elon Musk. In her latest column, AFT President Randi Weingarten shares how the Trump administration is slashing education funding, weakening Social Security and Medicaid, and gutting agencies that ensure food safety, disease prevention and national security. Americans are fighting back, as we saw on the AFT’s Protect Our Kids Day of Action, when thousands protested these reckless policies. We must reject this betrayal of working people and demand a government that serves everyone—not just the wealthy.

 

 

 

This month, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 universities announcing they are under investigation for alleged antisemitic harassment related to pro-Palestinian protests. For the same reason, Columbia University is facing $400 million in federal funding cuts and Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil was arrested. “We must fight antisemitism, but weaponizing the Office of Civil Rights investigations and threatening to withhold funding from colleges and universities smacks of modern-day McCarthyism,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “It does nothing to make Jewish students safer.” Read her statement here. Photo: Associated Press.

 

Each year during Women’s History Month we look back to honor the women who have helped shape this country with integrity, determination and righteous persistence—but we must also look forward to build on that legacy. Our Women’s History Month page honors the AFT women who fight for just policy, build up our communities and create inclusive learning environments for our children. And in this AFT Voices post, we consider five looming threats to women’s rights brought to us by the current administration at this moment of history.

In the past few years, campuses across the country have faced increasing pressure from extremist forces aimed at limiting or reshaping diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as challenging the boundaries of campus free speech and academic freedom. These challenges have created a complex and often contentious environment, with members seeking assistance on how to navigate the often-vague changes. The AFT will unpack it all on April 17 in "Navigating the Attacks on America’s Classrooms and the Freedom to Learn," a one-hour webinar that will also address ongoing attacks by the new administration. Register here. Image: diane555/Getty.

 

On March 4, educators, students and community allies participated in more than 2,000 actions throughout the country as part of the AFT’s Protect Our Kids Day of Action to fight President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s attacks on public education. Participants called on lawmakers to take a stand against funding cuts that will hurt millions of students. The Cook County College Teachers Union in Chicago held a virtual townhall calling on elected officials to do the right thing regarding funding cuts, immigration and academic freedom; AFT Washington engaged the community from street corners, waving signs and shouting out about funding for community colleges. From teach-ins, walk-ins and rallies to press events and legislative visits, the energy was unstoppable. Watch the video here.

 

We have all heard the alarming news that education funding will be cut and education policy changed in dangerous ways, but what does that mean on the ground? First-generation college students who need bridge programs to succeed in their first years of higher education may drop out early; students who rely on Pell grants may lose their opportunity to attend college at all; young people struggling with anxiety and depression will lose counselors; and in K-12 schools everything from speech therapy and remedial education to free school lunch is threatened. AFT members describe the direct harm the Trump administration is bringing to their students in this collection of blog posts from AFT Voices.

Schools, hospitals and communities across the country could face devastating consequences if Congress moves forward with plans to cut Medicaid funding by $880 billion, according to union leaders, healthcare workers and educators. The proposed cuts—part of a broader federal budget plan—would directly threaten access to healthcare for millions of Americans, including children, older Americans, low-income families, and people with disabilities. The AFT is urging members and the public to contact their representatives and demand they protect Medicaid. In addition, resources are available to help members on the AFT’s Protect Medicaid page.