The Trump administration has come into office with an ambitious agenda to transform higher education. As colleges and universities struggle to adapt to this radically new political environment, AEI Education Policy Studies Director Frederick M. Hess urges higher education leaders to seize this opportunity to restore the place of free inquiry, merit, and viewpoint diversity on campuses.

For the administration to succeed in higher education and its other priorities, it will need to remain focused on driving substantive outcomes to address voters’ concerns. AEI Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies Director Yuval Levin warns that the president’s preoccupation with pursuing grudges against opponents and institutions can end only in political failure. 

Reliance on unilateral executive actions has quickly sparked litigation and confrontation with federal courts. John Yoo and Robert J. Delahunty explain how the administration can avoid these judicial obstacles and create more durable policy successes by working with Congress to embody its agenda in legislation on issues such as immigration, the administrative state, and spending.

President Donald Trump’s retributive instincts have extended to foreign affairs, as he has increased trade barriers with major trading partners and allies, with threats of further tariffs looming. AEI Agricultural Policy Studies Director Vincent H. Smith and Joseph W. Glauber document the significant and counterproductive costs these trade wars would impose on American farmers.

The administration has rightfully criticized European countries for failing to meet the NATO defense spending benchmark of 2 percent of gross domestic product. In a new working paper, AEI defense budget expert Mackenzie Eaglen and Cole Spiller estimate the true state of defense spending in the alliance, the cost of years of underfunding, and what it will take to reestablish deterrence against adversaries.