State political actors are directly reshaping university leadership decisions. Sources say Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis personally offered Princeton professor Robert P. George the University of Florida presidency; George declined and recommended Columbia’s Donald Landry, who became interim president. The episode signals growing gubernatorial influence in flagship‑campus selections and a squeeze on trustee autonomy. In Arkansas, the University of Arkansas rescinded its announced hire of Emily Suski as law dean after Republican lawmakers objected to her signing a legal brief supporting trans athletes. Suski said the withdrawal stemmed from "influence from external individuals." Both incidents show state officials and political allies are increasingly decisive in academic hiring, escalating tensions over academic freedom, DEI, and institutional autonomy.