A new examination shows wealthy donors and private investors have grown more influential across higher education under the current administration, intervening in presidential searches and policy debates. The piece documents instances where billionaire funders have pressured boards or supported leadership changes and says that a new cohort of donors is shaping institutional strategy and federal policy engagement. The report underscores how concentrated private wealth can affect governance decisions and federal‑level education reforms, and it raises questions about accountability, board independence, and the role of philanthropic capital in an already tight public funding environment.