An essay examines the pressures facing university writing programs—political scrutiny, ideological attacks and disruption from AI—and argues the discipline is essential but must adapt. The piece outlines strategies to preserve writing instruction, including curriculum renewal, explicit assessment practices and faculty development to integrate AI while protecting core learning outcomes. Authors call for reinvestment in structured literacy, clearer institutional support, and renewed emphasis on faculty-led curricular control to sustain writing programs as central to undergraduate education and workforce readiness.