Janaki Mehta

Yeah, so Harvard actually updated the homepage of its website to reflect how federal dollars support research they do. They list research on treatments for several forms of cancer, heart disease, organs and transplantation. And they say federal funding is the university's largest source of support for what Harvard calls cutting-edge, groundbreaking research.

Yeah, so Harvard actually updated the homepage of its website to reflect how federal dollars support research they do. They list research on treatments for several forms of cancer, heart disease, organs and transplantation. And they say federal funding is the university's largest source of support for what Harvard calls cutting-edge, groundbreaking research.

Yeah, the administration has threatened billions of dollars of funding for other universities, some of whom say they will cooperate with the government's demands. You pointed to Columbia. But that has created a lot of anxiety for college leaders who are in this unprecedented bind, change their policies or lose money for important research.

Yeah, the administration has threatened billions of dollars of funding for other universities, some of whom say they will cooperate with the government's demands. You pointed to Columbia. But that has created a lot of anxiety for college leaders who are in this unprecedented bind, change their policies or lose money for important research.

Yeah, the administration has threatened billions of dollars of funding for other universities, some of whom say they will cooperate with the government's demands. You pointed to Columbia. But that has created a lot of anxiety for college leaders who are in this unprecedented bind, change their policies or lose money for important research.

My colleague Alyssa Nadworny recently spoke to some of those leaders. Here's Andrew Martin, the chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis.

My colleague Alyssa Nadworny recently spoke to some of those leaders. Here's Andrew Martin, the chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis.

My colleague Alyssa Nadworny recently spoke to some of those leaders. Here's Andrew Martin, the chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis.

And a lot of these leaders said that's made it really hard not just to focus on budgets, but also on students, faculty, and education itself.

And a lot of these leaders said that's made it really hard not just to focus on budgets, but also on students, faculty, and education itself.

And a lot of these leaders said that's made it really hard not just to focus on budgets, but also on students, faculty, and education itself.

Thank you, Layla.

Thank you, Layla.

Thank you, Layla.

What is taught in classrooms already is up to states, and 90 percent of school funding comes from state and local sources. But the federal government helps oversee laws and ensures funding goes where it's needed. With the U.S. Department of Education already cut in half, McMahon was asked what would happen to schools without that kind of federal oversight.

What is taught in classrooms already is up to states, and 90 percent of school funding comes from state and local sources. But the federal government helps oversee laws and ensures funding goes where it's needed. With the U.S. Department of Education already cut in half, McMahon was asked what would happen to schools without that kind of federal oversight.

Some states will do better than others, and that's a fact. So McMahon asked private sector donors, including those sitting in the room, to start doing their part to help fund education. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.

Some states will do better than others, and that's a fact. So McMahon asked private sector donors, including those sitting in the room, to start doing their part to help fund education. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.

No, that actually requires an act of Congress. The action essentially tells the Secretary of Education to take all steps towards eliminating the department to the maximum extent possible under the law. And like I said, it does require Congress. Well, we've already seen the Trump administration move towards that goal by cutting the department workforce nearly in half.

No, that actually requires an act of Congress. The action essentially tells the Secretary of Education to take all steps towards eliminating the department to the maximum extent possible under the law. And like I said, it does require Congress. Well, we've already seen the Trump administration move towards that goal by cutting the department workforce nearly in half.