US universities face choice to surrender or fight back against Trump’s takeover

Extraordinary fear' takes hold at universities as Trump campaign threatens investigations or loss of federal funds

The Trump administration's unprecedented pressure campaign on American higher education - which is forcing major universities to bow to its demands or risk investigations and the loss of millions of dollars in federal money - is so far facing little pushback from the schools affected.

That campaign escalated earlier this month, when the US government cancelled $400m in federal contracts and grants to Columbia University. In a subsequent letter, representatives of three federal agencies said they would reconsider that freeze only if Columbia agreed to conditions including more aggressively disciplining students who engage in pro-Palestinian disruptions, planning comprehensive" reform of the school's admissions policies, and placing one of school's area studies departments under academic receivership" - meaning under the control of an outside chair.