The White House pushed university leaders to sign a new “higher‑education compact” that would tie institutional commitments to preferential access to federal research funding. The administration convened a call with invited presidents to press for cooperation, but several elite schools declined and others signaled resistance. The University of Virginia publicly rejected the compact, becoming the fifth institution to refuse and underscoring broad sector pushback. Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the call as a step toward a shared vision, but university leaders and associations have criticized provisions that would make federal support contingent on commitments that intersect with academic governance and research autonomy. Colleges that declined cited concerns about merit‑based funding and federal overreach. The standoff raises questions about whether the administration can use funding levers to reshape campus priorities without triggering prolonged legal and reputational battles.