Bhalla & Brennan: ‘In the Assembly, we’ll have Rutgers’ back’ against Trump admin
“We cannot allow President Trump to impose his will on our nation’s colleges and universities, eviscerating academic freedom at the point of a federal gun,” Bhalla said in a statement.
“The research funding he is unlawfully withholding drives cures for diseases and scientific breakthroughs that fuel our economy. We’re not going to let this happen.”
The candidates praised Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway for joining more than 150 university presidents in a joint statement defending academic freedom against the Trump administration’s “unprecedented government overreach and political interference.”
“This is a blatant attack on academic freedom. If this was really about anti-Semitism, like Trump says it is, then let’s have an honest conversation about combating hate on college campuses. We can do that without defunding and destroying our colleges and universities,” added Brennan.
The duo added that “in the Assembly, we’ll have Rutgers’ back,” emphasizing the “unlawful freezing” of billions of dollars in previously awarded federal grants to top universities threatens critical health studies, medical treatments, and scientific research.