American higher education has achieved a stature comparable to few in the global marketplace of education thanks to its independence from government interference, an embrace of free speech and a principled pursuit of diversity. Those values have empowered us to attract the best and brightest students, professors and researchers from around the world.

Campus-based research in particular has consistently delivered innovative breakthroughs in medicine, manufacturing, science and technology, and have brought health and wealth to our shores. From the invention of the internet to milestones in medical technology, university research powers American innovation. 

That legacy of excellence is now rapidly eroding. The Trump administration’s systematic targeting of higher education funding is upending a national asset that took decades to build — our globally envied American research enterprise. The disruption of research funding, along with the political directive to police the language of grant proposals, has chilled the entire research establishment. 

That in turn threatens a historic brain drain from academia. International students and American research talent are starting to look to freer climates — and the rest of the world is happy to accommodate them. The European Union recently launched a $566 million fund to make Europe a magnet for U.S. scientists seeking a more welcoming environment to pursue their projects. Governments in Asia, including Singapore, have established similar initiatives. Japan has directed $700 million to attract scientific minds from the U.S. 

Moreover, the Trump administration’s clampdown on international student enrollment is costing our colleges and universities not only many of the best students from around the world, but billions in tuition dollars. Our talent and expertise is a treasured asset that, once lost, will be nearly impossible to recover.

Along with the irreversible damage being done to the American research enterprise, President Donald Trump’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) target a key pillar of American higher education. Diversity of thought is central to higher education. Our institutions proudly celebrate their campuses as “marketplaces of ideas,” environments where original thinking and conflicting theories are welcome and debated. Diverse ideas come from students and faculty with diverse backgrounds — ethnic, religious, international and other sources of identity. Because of this, American colleges and universities have been beacons of free speech and thought that have attracted the top minds of tomorrow.

Higher education in Nevada is in the crosshairs as well. So far, Trump has quashed 43 grants totaling nearly $40 million for UNLV and UNR that would have been devoted to vital public health research. Another $18 million was snatched away from UNLV, Nevada State University and College of Southern Nevada when the administration ended a grant program that sought to bring more Hispanic students into Nevada System of Higher Education institutions. Given that Nevada has one of the highest proportions of Hispanic citizens in the U.S., these competitive grants have been an important investment for the state. Cutting programs that offer aid to students from low-income families is another serious setback for Nevada institutions striving to make a college education available to all citizens.

UNLV is also being scrutinized for possible antisemitism, a common but flimsy charge used by the Trump administration to justify its interference in university affairs. UNR is facing scrutiny for its program in support of undocumented students. 

These attacks aren’t just political — they strike a personal chord. Trump’s siege on higher education damages foundational initiatives I proudly led, which resulted in a more equal and inclusive environment in Nevada’s colleges and universities. During my tenure as one of the Board of Regents’ longest-serving members, I championed gender equity reforms, advanced diversity, equity and inclusion for students, and chaired the search committee that led to Nevada’s first female university president, Carol Harter, who led the university through 11 years of substantial growth in programs and fundraising. Along with Regent Thalia Dondero, I was instrumental in establishing Nevada State University in 2002 against headwinds from other institutions, which initially feared the competition.

There is resistance to Trump’s assault, such as in Harvard’s early refusal to capitulate to the administration’s outrageous demands, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology rejecting the White House offer that would have compromised its independence and academic integrity. In Nevada, UNR President Brian Sandoval is setting an example by taking a firm stance in reiterating the university’s adherence to legal guidelines while underscoring the college’s commitment to a supportive campus environment for all its students. In California, lawmakers hope to create a state-funded California Foundation for Science and Health Research to render federal meddling completely moot.

These schools aren’t just worried about losing money. They’re worried about being forced to bargain away their longstanding independence. Higher education’s independence from government interference is part of a historic compact, reinforced by a governance structure of regents and trustees with fiduciary and institutional authority. This distinguishes the U.S. from much of the rest of the world in leaving the oversight of higher education to citizens instead of a government department.

Trump’s politically driven interference must be met with unified resistance by educational leaders everywhere — college presidents, governing boards of regents and trustees, foundation leaders, alumni, students and all those who value the higher education legacy that underpins American educational leadership in the world. Members of the public must make their voices heard wherever they can to rebuke the federal government's extortive tactic of withholding funds unless institutions align with its political doctrines. 

Especially now, with its nakedly partisan agenda, the federal government should never act as academic thought police, determining what is taught, who can teach and who can learn. Freedom of speech, bold ideas, and unfettered curiosity are the heart and soul of the university classroom. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for us who value the American legacy of higher education’s contribution to national progress and strength.

Jill Derby was elected to three terms on the Board of Regents, serving as chair from 1988 to 2006. She is also a senior fellow at the National Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.