Brown Rejects Latest Trump Deal, Months After Accepting Previous Agreement
GoLocalProv News Team
Brown Rejects Latest Trump Deal, Months After Accepting Previous Agreement
Brown wrote in a press release, “Paxson led the letter asserting the importance of a strong relationship between the government and higher education and noted that Brown and the government have a resolution agreement in place that already commits the University to a set of principles. However, she contrasted that existing agreement with the Compact, which does not include safeguards for protecting academic speech.”
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Paxson had capitulated to the Trump administration in the deal signed in July -- READ HERE.
Today, Brown tries to put a positive spin on the previous deal, writing, "Paxson wrote in the letter that on July 30, Brown signed a voluntary resolution agreement with the government that advances a number of the high-level principles articulated in the Compact, while maintaining core tenets of academic freedom and self-governance “that have sustained the excellence of American higher education across generations.” In that agreement, the University asserted its commitment to equality of opportunity in admissions and hiring, pledged continued compliance with nondiscrimination laws, and committed to funding for workforce development in Rhode Island — all aligned with Brown’s mission and values."
Paxson said she also understands the Compact’s focus on the rising costs of education, making clear that Brown continues to be responsive to concerns about affordability and access.
Brown University's undergraduate tuition for the 2025-26 academic year is about $71,700, with the total annual cost of attendance approaching $96,284 when including housing, food, fees, and miscellaneous expenses.
“Financial aid has been among the fastest-growing areas of Brown’s budget in the past decade,” she wrote. “We admit undergraduate students without consideration of their financial circumstances; all financial aid awards are loan-free and based solely on economic need; and we have targeted initiatives serving rural students and veterans, including doubling the number of undergraduate student veterans in recent years with expanded aid that funds full scholarships.”
ACLU of Rhode Island Executive Director Steven Brown issued the following statement today:
“We commend Brown University for rejecting the Trump Administration’s attempts to control the institution’s curriculum through the latest ‘compact’ agreement, and for standing up for academic freedom. Saying ‘no’ to the federal government’s attempts to control higher education, especially after agreeing to the administration’s demands once, is of critical importance for education across the country.”
Brown’s statement comes after the ACLU and others condemned Brown’s earlier deal.