A new report has warned that academic freedom in the United States is under unprecedented pressure. Experts say federal actions now threaten universities, scholars, and students, undermining the US’s long-standing global leadership in higher education.
The study recorded about 40 attacks on academic freedom in the US during the first half of 2025. These included cuts to research funding, as well as the detention or attempted deportation of foreign scholars for their political views. The report also highlights a surge in legislative and executive measures targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. This marks a sharp change from previous years, when most pressure came from state or local authorities. Since January 2025, federal actions have been the main source of threats, linked to the administration’s efforts to control university admissions, research, hiring, teaching, and disciplinary decisions.
Globally, the report reviewed 395 incidents affecting higher education leaders, faculty, staff, and students in 49 countries between mid-2024 and mid-2025. Worldwide, it recorded killings, arrests, disappearances, firings, travel bans, and administrative restrictions. Other concerning developments occurred in countries such as Bangladesh, where student protests were met with deadly crackdowns, and Serbia, where authorities threatened university funding and withheld faculty salaries.
Experts say the overall global trend is alarming. Academic freedom is shrinking faster than ever, even in democracies. Governments with autocratic tendencies are increasingly using legal and extralegal methods to limit independent thought, often targeting universities. In the US, opposition to the war in Gaza has been used as a pretext to monitor and punish students and faculty whose views conflict with government positions.
Before 2023, the US averaged 15 to 20 attacks on academic freedom per year, mostly at state and local levels. Now, federal actions have dramatically increased incidents. Universities previously faced pressure over topics such as critical race theory or gender studies, but the current situation is more aggressive and centrally organized. The administration has used allegations of antisemitism linked to the Palestinian conflict to justify actions that bypass normal legal processes.
In the first 75 days of the administration, more than 30 bills affecting higher education were introduced. Executive orders eliminated diversity and gender equity programs. Over 60 universities were investigated for antisemitism without following established rules. Federal research funds were frozen, student loan caps were imposed, and Pell Grant eligibility was restricted.
Internationally, the US restricted visas for foreign students and canceled existing visas, disrupting global education. Cuts to the US Agency for International Development also reduced funding for research and higher education projects worldwide, including in Africa and Afghanistan. Experts warn that these policies weaken America’s global role in education and research.
The executive director of the monitoring group called the situation unprecedented, saying the United States, once admired for its educational leadership, is voluntarily giving up its advantage. The report concludes that academic freedom is under severe pressure and that US actions now serve as a warning for other countries.
For students, faculty, and researchers, academic freedom in the US in 2025 is under threat like never before. Experts warn that if these policies continue, the consequences will extend beyond campuses, affecting society, international collaboration, and the future of free inquiry worldwide.
