U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon issued a national call to action on Aug. 3, urging university presidents and governing boards to reaffirm higher education’s commitments to academic excellence, research, and national service. McMahon called on every postsecondary institution to publish by the end of 2026 a clear public statement outlining its commitment to implementing reforms aimed at restoring public trust in higher education.
McMahon said American higher education has shaped the nation’s civic life, scientific advancement, and economic opportunity for nearly four centuries. However, she said confidence in higher education has eroded as many institutions have drifted from foundational principles. Recent polling shows that public trust in higher education has reached historic lows across political parties and demographic groups.
In her letter, McMahon said she is confident that bold university leadership can help usher in renewed academic excellence, economic opportunity, scientific discovery, and American leadership. She urged universities to begin what she described as a “forthright conversation with the American people,” guided by seven central questions.
The questions address transparency and merit in admissions; free speech and open inquiry; intellectual pluralism and academic vitality; affordability, value, and student outcomes; academic standards amid artificial intelligence advancements; safeguarding research integrity from foreign influence; and prioritizing American interests through campus initiatives.
University leaders are encouraged to consider how their institutions will ensure transparent admissions criteria based on merit; protect free exchange of ideas while maintaining order on campus; foster intellectual pluralism through faculty practices; make degrees affordable with strong student outcomes; incentivize rigor amid technological change such as AI; protect against malign foreign influence in research programs; and advance American security interests while meeting workforce needs.