### Trump Vows to Cut Federal Funding for Schools Permitting ‘Illegal Protests’
Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, March 4, that he would halt federal funding for American-owned schools that allow what he called “illegal protests.”
“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,” Trump stated on his Truth Social platform.
He further warned that agitators would face imprisonment or deportation, while American students involved could be expelled or arrested, depending on the severity of their actions. “NO MASKS!” he emphasized.
Trump has long expressed a desire to reshape the U.S. education system, including defunding the Department of Education and shifting full curriculum control to individual states.
Previously, he threatened to cut government funding to schools over topics such as gender and race studies, policies on transgender athletes in girls’ sports, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
His latest remarks follow a wave of student demonstrations on U.S. campuses in 2024, particularly in response to Israel’s war in Gaza, which sparked debates over free speech and allegations of anti-Semitism.
Just a day prior, the U.S. government announced it was considering terminating more than $50 million in contracts with New York’s Columbia University, citing concerns over its handling of Jewish student safety.