Sally Kornbluth, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s president, rejected an offer from the Trump administration to sign a “compact” in exchange for preferential access to federal funding, according to a letter she wrote to the Trump administration.

She wrote that the “compact” is “inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.”

“In our view, America’s leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education,” Kornbluth wrote.

A Trump administration spokesperson

See Full Page