Week of 28 July 2025 Education & Academic Freedom

  • Federal 'Antisemitism' Task‑Force now wielded to pressure universities into scaling back DEI and altering admissions; Harvard & Columbia remain prime targets.Federal
  • Harvard sues feds over a $2.3 billion funding freeze and threatened loss of international‑student certification, calling enforcement political retribution.Litigation
  • Ohio SB 1 in force – bans DEI hiring/enrollment, prohibits faculty strikes, gags public‑campus political statements under penalty of lost state funds.State Law
  • Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Indiana & Idaho advance or enforce similar DEI curbs, signalling a coordinated legislative wave.State Trend
  • Mississippi TRO – federal judge blocks the state's new anti‑DEI law for vagueness and speech chill.Court Order
  • ➜ Collective Action: 150+ university presidents issue open letter condemning federal interference; faculty at Wesleyan & others decry "Project 2025" education overhaul.
Judicial Independence
  • 35 % of adverse court orders reportedly ignored or defied by the administration—immigration & funding rulings most affected.Non‑Compliance
  • SCOTUS curtails nationwide injunctions; dissenters warn the move weakens checks on executive power.Supreme Court
  • "One Big Beautiful Bill" clause would bar contempt enforcement unless plaintiffs post bond—seen as blunting judicial tools.Legislation Watch
  • At the Monterey Judicial Conference, Justice Kagan calls out political attacks on courts & emergency‑docket opacity; bipartisan scholars echo concerns.Public Critique
  • 40+ retired judges launch the Article III Coalition to defend judicial independence amid rising impeachment threats.Advocacy

Compiled by the Weekly Watchbot • Last updated 28 Jul 2025