Trump administration delivers ultimatum to Australian universities in globe-spanning threat

This crackdown has already led to the suspension of billions of dollars in global research grants.

PUBLISHED MAR 17, 2025

Despite the backlash, the Albanese Labor government has avoided criticizing the Trump administration.

Washington D.C.: US government agencies have sent Australian researchers a 36-point questionnaire, threatening to cut funding for joint projects unless they align with US military and strategic interests. The five-page document, which must be completed within 48 hours, demands that research avoid topics like climate justice, diversity, and equity, while explicitly targeting connections to China, Russia, or socialist ideologies.

The questionnaire includes questions such as whether the research supports “anti-American beliefs", “gender ideology", or collaboration with entities linked to communist or socialist parties. It also requires projects to strengthen US sovereignty, border security, and patriotic values, while rejecting reliance on international organizations like the UN or WHO.

The AUKUS submarine deal between the US, the UK and Australia is critical to the southern nation's longterm security.

This crackdown has already led to the suspension or termination of billions of dollars in global research grants, including in Australia, where hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and thousands of jobs are at risk. Australian universities, already reeling from government cuts to international student enrollments and chronic underfunding, now face intensified pressure.

The US has long been Australia’s largest research partner, with $515 million in funding for 2024 alone, much of it tied to military and medical science. However, the Trump administration’s demands have sparked outrage among university staff, who fear job losses and a broader assault on academic freedom.

Despite the backlash, the Albanese Labor government has avoided criticizing the Trump administration, instead emphasizing the importance of the US-Australia research partnership.

Education Minister Jason Clare’s spokesperson stated that Australia is “engaging with the US government to understand what these measures mean for future funding and collaboration".

University managements have similarly stressed their commitment to the US alliance, with the Group of Eight (Go8) universities highlighting their role in defense initiatives and the AUKUS pact, which aims to prepare for potential conflict with China. Meanwhile, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) condemned the questionnaire as “racist, transphobic, and misogynistic” but failed to address its alignment with US militarism.