President Trump’s attacks on higher education aren’t isolated. They’re part of a calculated campaign to dismantle institutions that question authority, uplift marginalized voices, and produce critical thinking. From canceling grants at the University of Maryland to targeting Towson and gutting jobs at Johns Hopkins, Trump’s assault is now hitting home for us here in Maryland.

More than $12 million in research funding was recently slashed at UMD because it was deemed “too DEI-focused” by Trump’s administration. Grants from the NIH, Department of Education, NSF, and even the Department of Defense—gone. At Towson University, Trump’s Department of Education is investigating so-called “racial discrimination” simply because the school works with The PhD Project. This group helps Black and Brown students earn doctoral degrees. At Johns Hopkins, over 2,000 employees have been laid off after Trump pulled USAID funding, gutting health initiatives that span Baltimore and 44 countries.

This is not about bureaucracy or budgeting; it’s about erasing progress. Trump has made it clear: if a program uplifts marginalized people, he’ll defund it. If a university encourages protest or diversity, he’ll punish it.

While elite institutions like Harvard and Columbia were among the first targets, the focus has now shifted to public universities and working-class students. Trump wants full ideological control of American education—who gets in, what gets taught, and who gets silenced.

We should be alarmed, but not paralyzed. More attacks are coming. The only way to fight back is with courage and clarity.

The fight against Trump requires more than just defensive strategies. It demands a new, unapologetic progressive vision. One that protects academic freedom, affirms immigrant rights, defends student protest, and fully funds public education.

Democrats cannot meet authoritarianism with moderation. We need bold candidates who are willing to fight for working families, speak up for justice in all its forms, and build a future where universities remain spaces for liberation and empowerment.

Now is the time to stand up for higher education, for democracy, and for the communities most at risk.