Political pressure on public and flagship universities intensified this week as Virginia’s governor-elect sought input—via the commonwealth’s board—on delaying a University of Virginia presidential search and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill publicly declined to sign a federal ‘Compact for Academic Excellence.’ Abigail Spanberger urged the U.Va. board to wait until she takes office before replacing a president removed amid political controversy. Separately, UNC-Chapel Hill leadership rejected a White House-style compact that ties federal preferences to sweeping institutional changes, saying the compact’s terms are impossible to accept as written. These interventions highlight state-level politics colliding with campus governance: trustees, search committees and presidents now face increased scrutiny from elected officials seeking influence over hiring, academic programs and admissions policy. Higher-ed boards should anticipate heightened public and legislative oversight and plan for legal and reputational responses to preserve institutional autonomy while navigating political realities.