(VIRGINIA MERCURY) - The University of Virginia declined to accept an offer from President Donald Trump‘s administration to sign an agreement granting federal funding and privileges in exchange for support of the administration’s policies, according to an Oct. 17 letter submitted to White House officials.

Virginia lawmakers had denounced the proposal as “political extortion” and threatened to withhold state funding from the college if it accepted, according to Virginia Mercury.

In a statement to the institution’s community, UVA Interim President Paul Mahoney said he and Rector Rachel Sheridan wrote in the letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and White House officials that federal research funding should be based on merit while declining the invitation.

“The integrity of scie

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