Donald Trump has trapped American universities in six ways. What can the new Congress do about it?

After Donald Trump's election in 2025, he initiated a multi-front attack on U.S. universities, focusing on federal funding cuts, political control, and legal challenges. With the new Congress, there are potential avenues to counteract these measures. Trump's executive orders can be challenged, but require legislative action to reverse. Financial sanctions against universities have been met with legal resistance, and budget cuts to research institutions like NIH could be reversed by Congress. Political oversight of research funding is also a concern, prompting proposed legislation to protect academic autonomy. Ongoing lawsuits may delay Trump's initiatives, but Congress can initiate its own investigations into his policies. Despite federal funding remaining stable, a chilling effect on research and talent retention is evident, prompting calls for legislative intervention to restore confidence in the academic sector.