
Newsom threatens to cut state funding to universities that sign Trump's political compact
Jaweed Kaleem, Melody Gutierrez, Aamer Madhani
Thu, October 2, 2025 at 10:53 AM CDT
10 min read
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The White House is asking USC and eight other major universities to commit to President Trump's political priorities in exchange for more favorable access to federal money. Above, the USC campus. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday threatened to cut "billions" in state funding, including to USC, from any California campus that signs a Trump administration compact to agree to sweeping and largely conservative campus policies in exchange for priority access to federal funding.
"If any California University signs this radical agreement, they’ll lose billions in state funding — including Cal Grants — instantly," Newsom said. "California will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers, and surrender academic freedom."
The bold statement came less than a day after the White House asked the University of Southern California and eight other major universities throughout the country to shift to the right and agree to Trump's views on gender identity, admissions, diversity and free speech among other areas — in exchange for more favorable access to federal research grants and additional funding.