Political Interference In US Education Undermines Academic Freedom And Equitable Access To Education: UN Expert

Geneva, 19 June 2025

The Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Farida Shaheed, today expressed deep concern over escalating political interference across the US education system, warning that recent developments, including the contested decision to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students, are part of a wider trend threatening academic freedom, student rights and democratic integrity.

“While the Harvard case has drawn global attention, it is emblematic of a much broader pattern of coercive assault on academic freedom and institutional autonomy: from book and subject bans in schools to discriminatory censorship laws and punitive measures against universities, their students and faculty,” Shaheed said.

She warned against the authoritarian encroachment on universities, where state power is increasingly used to penalise dissent, shape curricula and restrict open inquiry.

In her country visit report presented today at the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur documented discriminatory policies targeting curricula, teaching and student activism. “As observed during my visit and in the year that followed, political interference has increasingly restricted access to diverse perspectives and critical inquiry,” she said. “Many interlocutors described a pervasive ‘chilling effect’ on educators and institutions. At the same time, student protests are met with criminalisation, deportations, surveillance and disproportionate disciplinary actions.”

Shaheed called on the US to uphold academic freedom as a cornerstone of scientific progress and democracy. “This includes respecting institutional autonomy, resisting censorship and ensuring pluralism in educational content,” she said. “As a party to the ICCPR, the United States must guarantee that universities, whether public or private, operating on its territory and subordinate to its legislation, protect, and not punish, peaceful protest.”

She expressed strong support for more than 200 universities resisting what has been described as a coordinated pressure campaign involving threats to withdraw federal funding or tax privileges, weaponisation of accreditation, politically motivated investigations and demands to censor content, restrict hiring or discipline students.

“I commend those institutions that are standing firm in defence of the core values of education. Upholding academic freedom and freedom of expression is not only lawful, it is necessary to preserve the democratic role of education.”

Shaheed urged authorities at all levels to:

• Recognise education as a fundamental human right;

· Treat education as a public good and address inequities in funding;

· End censorship and politicisation of content across all levels of education;

· Prioritise mental health and restorative approaches over punitive discipline;

· Protect tenure and institutional governance from external interference.

“Without structural reforms, these trends will continue to erode equitable access to education and diminish its role in sustaining democratic society,” she warned, adding that the Principles for implementing the right to academic freedom can provide useful guidance in creating policies aimed at shielding academic activities from political and commercial interests.

(Farida Shaheed is the Special Rapporteur on the right to education.)

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