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Manhattan Institute Leads Trump's Higher Education Overhaul

other · 2026-07-01

The Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, has been instrumental in shaping Trump administration policies targeting higher education. It crafted model legislation to make colleges race-blind, supported the campaign to oust Harvard president Claudine Gay, and uses its quarterly magazine City Journal to attack diversity programs, grade inflation, and university leaders' concessions to left-leaning students and faculty.

Key facts

  • The Manhattan Institute crafted model legislation to remake colleges as race-blind institutions.
  • The think tank fueled the campaign to oust Claudine Gay as Harvard president.
  • City Journal, its quarterly magazine, attacks diversity programs, grade inflation, and university presidents.
  • The institute is leading Trump's war on education.

Entities

Institutions

  • Manhattan Institute
  • Harvard University
  • City Journal
  • Chronicle of Higher Education

Sources