The fight for the future of U.S universities | BBC Americast

There is a new deal on the table for American universities.

After months of battles between the Trump administration and some of America’s top universities, over access to funding and changes to admissions process, there is a new deal on the table.

The White House is asking nine elite colleges to agree to President Trump’s vision for American campuses in exchange for “substantial and meaningful federal grants”.

The White House says it will tackle elitism and racial bias but opponents of the deal say it limits the very thing that Trump says he wants free speech.

Justin and Anthony speak to Inez Stepman, Senior Policy and Legal Analyst for the Independent Women’s Forum and Independent Women’s Law Centre, to get an inside view into the administration’s position on universities.

HOSTS:
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

Post from BBC News on October 10, 2025

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