Williams Considers How to Deal with New Federal Restrictions
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — "Harvard vs. Trump" is gaining national headlines, but the White House's campaign against academia goes beyond Cambridge.
Even as Williams College faces the prospect of a massive federal tax increase, the college reportedly is mulling whether to accept federal grant money that comes with new strings attached.
On Tuesday morning, the Boston Globe reported that Williams "temporarily paused" federal research grants while the college reviews Trump administration rules that would condition grants on the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion programs on college campuses.
The Globe reported that the college planned a faculty forum for Tuesday to discuss the impacts of that decision.
At the same time, the Globe cited reports this week that the National Institutes of Health is rescinding its April 21 policy targeting DEI programs.
The Trump administration claims that DEI initiatives run afoul of federal antidiscrimination laws. Targeting diversity programs was one of the main objectives of "Project 2025," a blueprint for governing written by both former and future Trump appointees that was published by the Heritage Foundation in 2023.
The Globe cited Williams as "seemingly the first college or university" to pause acceptance of federal grants in light of Trump's anti-DEI campaign.
On Monday, Williams College President Maud Mandel sent the college community a wide-ranging letter in which she touched on the importance of research at the liberal arts college.
"At Williams, we involve students in the work of knowledge creation alongside faculty who are leading scholars in their fields (many staff, too, are important partners in research and teaching)," Mandel wrote. "Our model has delivered tremendous value for students and society, far beyond the cost to taxpayers. Unfortunately, the government has backed away from this longstanding partnership. We will continue pressing government officials to recognize its value to the national interest.
"Three principles will guide that work: our commitments to the scholarly enterprise, to building and supporting a diverse academic community and to ensuring that the college is not placed in serious legal and financial jeopardy."
Mandel's email also talked about a Trump initiative that could have an even greater long-term impact on Williams: a massive tax increase on the educational non-profit.
Legislation that recently passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives would drastically increase the tax liability of Williams and other schools for revenue generated from its endowment.
"Among other things, we used our endowment and alumni gifts to provide financial aid for 53 percent of the student body in 2024-25, amounting to roughly $92M in aid for this year alone," Mandel said.
She wrote that, on average, the college pays a tax of about 1.4 percent, or $2 million per year, on its investment income. That number would soar to 21 percent, or $30 million per year under the bill that advanced from the House to the U.S. Senate.
Mandel said the $30 million would represent "just over 10 percent of our annual operating budget."
"Along with my presidential colleagues, I will spend time this summer reaching out to senators and their staff," Mandel wrote. "My message to them: Education is part of the American dream. The so-called "endowment" tax is actually a tax on students and families."
Tags: DEI, federal grants, Williams College,
