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Education Secretary Linda McMahon requests university leaders to commit to institutional changes by the end of 2026

Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a letter to university presidents and board chairs requesting that institutions publicly commit to several key changes by the end of 2026. The administration announced these goals include addressing grade inflation, improving cost transparency, curbing foreign donations, and hiring faculty with diverse perspectives to counter perceived left-leaning biases. This new letter is considered a significant improvement over a previous, and more restrictive, compact offered by the administration. While the original compact included a 15 percent cap on international enrollment and a five-year tuition freeze, the current letter allows universities more autonomy to explain how they address these issues in ways appropriate to their specific missions. Jenna Silber Storey noted that the letter represents a more measured and constructive approach that avoids imposing a single, potentially unconstitutional, policy on the entire sector. The administration seeks to revitalize higher education by fostering a variety of institutional types that maintain academic excellence while restoring public trust.

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