Afrasianet - CNN warned of US President Donald Trump's attack on elite American universities. How is the U.S. economy weakening? What are its strategic implications?
CNN also warned that US President Donald Trump's attack on elite American universities constitutes an attack on the most urbanized and economically vibrant region of the country, and a direct threat to its competitiveness on the world stage.
Trump's Attack on Universities Weakens U.S.
He pointed out that these research universities have served as engines of growth in the most productive regions of the US economy, contributing to a steady flow of scientific discoveries, and graduating generations of qualified young people who flocked to high-tech companies working in the fields of computing, communications, artificial intelligence, medical equipment, biotechnology, pharmaceutical industries and other advanced sectors.
Any damage to the campus will necessarily reflect on the cities that drive U.S. economic growth and weaken the U.S. ability to compete globally, especially in light of the sharp escalation of China's challenge in vital areas.
He acknowledged that Trump's attack on leading think tanks appears to be a form of unilateral disarmament.
According to Brookings Metro data, 44 of America's 100 most productive counties have a top 100 federal research grant university, and 41 also graduate large numbers of Ph.D. holders in science and engineering.
Although these counties account for less than 1.5% of the total number of U.S. counties (about 3,100), they contribute approximately 35% of U.S. GDP.
Trump targets US universities
He stressed that Trump recently began targeting a group of the most prominent American universities by reviewing, suspending or canceling billions of dollars in federal grants allocated to them, and the list included institutions such as Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania, and was later joined by Northwestern and Cornell Universities.
These measures came against the backdrop of student protests against the war in Gaza, as well as controversy over admission, diversity and immigration policies.
Warning letters were sent to 19 other universities about the possible withdrawal of federal funding for allegedly failing to protect students from "anti-Semitism."
Johns Hopkins University alone lost $800 million due to USAID funding cuts, causing about 2,000 employees to be laid off.
"The administration is trying to put pressure on Harvard for not adopting the concepts it imposes."
What worries U.S. universities?
The National Science Foundation scholarships have seen a sharp decline, according to the website, with 50 percent fewer approved in the first two months of Trump's second term than in the same period a year earlier, and the number of fellowships awarded to graduate students was halved.
Perhaps the most serious concern for universities was the National Institutes of Health's decision in February to cut the funds for indirect expenses, which universities rely on to maintain laboratories and pay research support staff. "Despite a first instance ruling blocking the implementation of this decision, the conservative majority in the Supreme Court may be tempted to overturn it later."
Added to this trend is the deportation of foreign students, even for expressing their political views, which weakens the ability of the United States to attract distinguished minds from countries such as India and China.
The Dangers of Trump's Policies Strategically
Despite Trump's progress in some areas, the data suggests that the most productive regions, home to leading research universities, still vote against him by a large majority.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris garnered about 40 percent of her national votes from just 40 of these counties, while the four counties Trump won accounted for only 5 percent of his total votes.
With China making huge strides in areas such as artificial intelligence, some technology leaders see this moment as similar to the "Sputnik shock" that motivated America in the fifties, but Trump's response seems to be the exact opposite of what the United States did at the time by increasing investment in education and scientific research.