Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, colleges and universities across the nation have felt the full weight of the federal government working against them — from numerous lawsuits and funding cuts to restrictions on international students entering the United States — the impact on higher education has been profound. GW students have felt this impact especially acutely, with the University dealing with two Department of Justice probes and a surge of National Guard troops around their campus. As a first-year student studying in D.C. — which appears to be the epicenter of Trump’s antics — the new administration has most definitely molded my introduction to the college experience in ways I did not anticipate, becoming a defining aspect of my first year by dominating campus discourse and sowing uncertainty with the financial and political pressures it has put on the University. In many ways, I feel robbed of the stability of my college experience, the academic integrity of historical subjects and the security of Washington, D.C.
My first week at GW set the tone for how significantly Trump would impact my first year, as I and all the other first-years arrived just after his decision to send National Guard troops into D.C. after declaring a crime emergency in the city. Not only did military vehicles cause extensive traffic during move-in week, but the presence of armed individuals served as a worrying introduction to a city I was unfamiliar with. I had never witnessed or experienced an operation of that caliber in my life. It became increasingly normal to witness the National Guard armed with assault weapons out on the streets during the day, grabbing coffee or simply patrolling. I never thought military-grade weapons would be so casually a part of my day-to-day college experience, but it quickly became my reality. With the Pentagon planning to keep the National Guard deployed until 2029 I would hope to see the University take additional action to protect the safety and security of students or possibly introduce lawsuits to correct Trump administration policy that negatively affects the student body.
Moreover, it is impossible to ignore how federal policy has influenced the University’s financial decision-making by adding further pressures onto GW’s difficult fiscal situation. Withholding federal funds for research grants and other programs exacerbated the University’s existing structural budget deficit which leaves less funds for University resources. Cuts to resources have especially affected me living on the Mount Vernon Campus, as officials decreased the Mount Vernon Express’s operating hours from every five minutes to 10 — sometimes longer on weekends. As a lower-income student these dramatic increases in expenses directly affect my family and cloud my college experience with ambiguity — how my expenses will be financed and how it will affect my family. Moreover, Trump’s moves to undermine the Department of Education — which handles the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and other forms of federal student aid — only contributed to financial stress as the FAFSA portal was delayed and Pell Grant eligibility requirements were increased. Instead of fully looking forward to the excitement this year had to offer, much of my mind was bogged down by the unpredictable nature of President Trump.
These financial decisions on the part of the University — partly driven by Trump administration pressures like drops in international student enrollment which adversely affects the University’s profitability — plague my college experience with inferior services than expected and fiscal uncertainty over my education which directly negatively affect my experiences. While I commend GW for in many ways resisting these policies, like when they rejected Trump’s education compact, there is still only so much the University can do to protect its students from a hostile government. It is disheartening to see the federal government of my country attack the quality of my education.
As a D.C. student, one of the obvious draws of coming to the city was exploring the vast array of museums just a few blocks away from campus, but that too has come under threat. Trump’s attacks on supposed diversity, equity and inclusion in federal museums has forced many Smithsonian museums to alter their content and exclude the negative parts of American history, like slavery in the United States, the American Indian Wars and his impeachments. Thus, the redaction of valuable exhibits and the chilling effect on future artwork and displays have degraded the historical quality of some of the best museums in the world. As a student of history this effect has been particularly troubling in my college experience since the Smithsonian museums were one of the things I looked forward to the most. Moreover, I find this especially concerning considering Trump’s relentless attacks on what he deems to be diversity, equity and inclusion measures in higher education, threatening to change how history is taught in its entirety.
Trump’s flurry of DOJ investigations against GW have not benefited my college experience either. After charging the University with acting indifferent towards on-campus antisemitism and in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the federal government seems ready to exercise all its resources against GW. Knowing the school remains in the bad graces of the government of the United States is a threatening prospect, putting any federally funded programs and financial aid at risk.
As I am now already thinking and planning for my second year, I would hope that many of these issues will be resolved or nearing resolution. I would hope federal programs would be reinstated and DOJ investigations to cease — to lighten the load of financial pressures the University faces. Moreover, I would like to see an end to Trump’s attacks on D.C. and higher education at large. I don’t want my next few years in college, which align with Trump’s four year term, to be consistently defined by Trump actions, so I need not worry about how the actions of an arbitrary president affect my education and college experience.
The Trump administration has made my first year at GW defined by uncertainty. Whether it be increased financial insecurity, attacks on historical attractions or the surge of federal troops coming to D.C., Trump and his crusade on higher education have brought unnecessary worry to my college experience, especially at a school that is already struggling with its finances. Moving forward, I hope that the restoration of federal funds, fewer lawsuits and future respect for historical landmarks will decrease anxieties and improve my quality of life here in D.C. — which is the end goal of any federal action; to change the lives of American citizens for the better. Even if federal policy does not change, it is important that students do not let their anxieties entirely consume them and focus on the many positives an education at GW has to offer.
Ethan Vargas, a rising sophomore majoring in political science, is the contributing opinions editor.
