IFUT Statement on Recent Developments in Higher Education in the U.S.

25 April 2025

The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) Executive Committee strongly condemns U.S. President Trump's recent actions targeting Harvard University and other higher education institutions across the U.S., which represent a severe threat to academic freedom, institutional independence, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies.

Trump's decision to impose a punitive freeze of $2.2 billion in federal funding, along with $60 million in cuts to government contracts, in response to Harvard's rightful refusal to adhere to demands undermining its autonomy, sets a dangerous precedent. Harvard's insistence on safeguarding its constitutional rights and academic independence is commendable and must be supported unequivocally.

Academic freedom and institutional autonomy are the foundational pillars upon which higher education stands. Trump's administration has sought to weaponise funding mechanisms to coerce compliance with policies explicitly designed to dismantle critical diversity initiatives and mandate governmental oversight of academic discourse and personal beliefs. Such overreach violates essential democratic principles, undermining both civil rights and intellectual liberty.

We are further concerned that Irish academics now have cause to fear potential harassment and visa issues at U.S. border control. Professor Luke O'Neill described in today's Irish Examiner how he had "never been quizzed as much" at U.S. border control while travelling to give a talk at Harvard. We understand, from the same article in today's Examiner, that some universities are advising staff to either delete their social media or carry 'burner' phones when travelling to the U.S.

IFUT unequivocally opposes all forms of discrimination. Genuine efforts to combat prejudice cannot become pretexts for authoritarian interventions in university governance, admissions, hiring practices, or scholarly inquiry. The current U.S. administration's aggressive approach risks conflating legitimate political expression and peaceful protest with extremism, thereby stifling open academic dialogue.

We stand firmly with Harvard and other institutions resisting this coercive assault. It is vital that educational communities globally reject attempts to silence critical thought and undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia. IFUT urges the immediate reconsideration and reversal of these punitive measures, reaffirming that freedom in education is non-negotiable.

Frank Jones
General Secretary Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT)