ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University President Fred Pestello and hundreds of higher-education leaders have signed a public statement condemning President Donald Trump’s administration.
The statement, titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” comes as higher education leaders warn of “unprecedented government overreach and political interference,” threats they say endanger the future of American higher education.
Pestello was one of more than 300 higher-education presidents to sign the statement.
According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration is withholding billions in federal funding from universities in response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations, urging schools to align more closely with the administration’s political agenda.
“We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight,” the statement reads. “However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live and work on our campuses.”
The statement marks the first collective response from sitting university presidents since the beginning of Trump’s second presidential term.