Both Democrats and Republicans Give Millions to Universities in Earmarks – But Not in the Same Way

U.S. politicians have perhaps never been more divided, including when it comes to their views on higher education.

Republicans are pushing for more control over the day-to-day work at colleges and universities. Some Republican politicians say that universities are elitist, woke organizations that are out of touch with the general public and lack value for most people. In step with this rhetoric, they have cut funding to higher education, including slashing grants to universities with ethnically and racially diverse student bodies.

Democrats, meanwhile, broadly support higher education, praising it for its role in improving people’s lives. They are challenging these cuts and the Trump administration’s mounting interference into how colleges are run.

Despite these differences, both Democrats and Republicans invest billions in higher education and issue billions annually in federal earmarks.