Top colleges targeted by President Trump have significantly increased lobbying expenditures, according to an analysis. The ten universities under scrutiny from the administration collectively spent $2.8 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing any quarterly spending since at least 2008. A federal task force focusing on antisemitism on campuses initiated investigations into these institutions in February.
Columbia University notably tripled its lobbying expenses compared to the same period in 2024, while Harvard University raised its spending from $130,000 to $230,000. Lobbyists typically engage with White House and Congressional staff on issues relevant to their universities, including financial aid, research advocacy, and antisemitism mitigation efforts.
In response to accusations of leftist ideologies, these colleges have begun hiring firms aligned with conservative values, resulting in nearly a 150 percent increase in contracted lobbying from the prior year. The analysis indicated a heightened reliance on lobbying firms with Republican affiliations.
The institutions under investigation include Columbia, George Washington University, Harvard, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Northwestern University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Southern California, and two campuses within the University of California system. Palestinian rights protests occurred at these schools last year, igniting debate over whether such activism crossed into antisemitism.
Public records reveal various lobbying efforts for these colleges, with firms like Cornerstone Government Affairs representing multiple institutions. The University of California system reported the highest lobbying expenditure in the first quarter of 2025 at $930,000. Northwestern University experienced the largest increase in spending, but nonetheless faced $790 million in federal funding cuts.
These lobbying initiatives are part of broader defensive strategies by universities anticipating federal government actions, including proposed cuts to research funding and increased taxes on endowments. Some institutions, like the University of California, have begun to scale back diversity and inclusion programs in response.
Columbia University, which has already faced threats of significant funding cuts, is working to comply with some demands from the administration, including the establishment of a new internal security force. Harvard has also struggled to negotiate with the government and is currently involved in legal action against the administration.
In light of heightened pressures, some higher education leaders view increased lobbying as a necessary measure. Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, emphasized the importance of collaboration with legislators and business leaders to advocate for higher education funding.