For the first time in its history, the Florida Board of Governors has rejected a university’s choice for president, despite unanimous approval from the University of Florida’s board of trustees. The nominee, Santa Ono—a former University of Michigan president—was targeted by right-wing activists for his past support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as his views on climate change, gender-affirming care, admissions, and his handling of pro-Palestinian protests and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ono’s attempt to reassure critics by stating, “I am here to ensure that DEI never returns to the University of Florida,” failed to reverse the backlash.
Florida is leading a sweeping conservative movement to reshape higher education—one that mirrors and expands upon efforts seen under the Trump administration. But it is far from alone. Since 2023, 135 bills have been introduced across 29 states aimed at curbing DEI programs, banning mandatory diversity training, prohibiting diversity statements in hiring and promotion, and restricting academic content tied to systemic racism, gender equity, and other social justice topics. At least 27 of these bills have become law.
Several states have passed laws imposing sweeping “educational gag orders” that limit how educators discuss race, gender, and sexuality. In Ohio, for example, public universities are barred from promoting “controversial beliefs” such as climate change policy, immigration, DEI, and abortion rights. The state also mandates “intellectual diversity” and restricts most DEI-related policies and practices.
Florida’s own controversial “Stop WOKE Act”—which sought to ban teaching “divisive concepts” in colleges—was blocked by federal courts for violating First Amendment protections. Still, the state has moved ahead with eliminating hundreds of general education courses at public institutions to comply with laws targeting content related to identity politics or systemic inequality.
Amid criticism of existing accrediting bodies for supporting DEI, public university systems in Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee have announced plans to create their own accrediting agencies—an unprecedented shift that raises concerns over political interference in academic standards.
Several states—including Ohio, Utah, and Florida—now mandate civics instruction rooted in a more conservative vision of Western civilization. Ohio requires students to read works such as The Federalist Papers, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, and writings by Adam Smith. Meanwhile, states like Florida, Texas, and Iowa have established civics institutes explicitly designed to reflect conservative viewpoints.
The tenure system, once a cornerstone of academic freedom, is also under threat. At least 11 states have passed laws introducing stricter post-tenure reviews or making it easier to dismiss tenured faculty. Indiana, for instance, prohibits granting tenure to those “unlikely to foster a culture of free inquiry” and allows dismissal for failing to meet that standard.
The traditional model of shared governance is also eroding. A recently vetoed bill in Arizona would have stripped faculty of their role in approving academic programs. In Texas, a new law reserves unprecedented powers for university governing boards, including the ability to overturn curriculum decisions, deny key administrative hires, and override admissions standards. Faculty senates are now limited to advisory roles, and their leaders are appointed by university presidents.
Political litmus tests are increasingly influencing the appointment of trustees and presidents. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has overhauled New College—once known for its progressive values—by installing conservative board members and appointing a right-wing president in an effort to transform the institution into a model of anti-“woke” education.
Critics have compared these efforts to McCarthy-era purges in higher education, but today’s movement is more expansive. While McCarthyism focused largely on rooting out alleged communists and enforcing loyalty oaths, today’s campaigns target broad areas of academic content, faculty governance, and institutional autonomy—reaching deeply into the core of university operations.
The McCarthy era created a culture of fear that took decades to recover from. Whether American higher education can withstand and rebound from this modern wave of political interference remains uncertain. What is clear is that a defining battle over the future of teaching, learning, and academic freedom is now fully underway.
