Reading recently in this paper a column celebrating federal rules infringing on local school decision-making shocked me. Obviously, almost all parents, regardless of their political views, want substantial local influence guiding a good education for their children. Yet, a News Messenger columnist praised the Trump administration’s recent executive order detailing federal requirements on disciplining our kids in schools. Who knows best what discipline on our children is most effective and appropriate – parents and local teachers or politicians in Washington? And importantly, this column again pushed the idea of conflict, rather than one of citizens and governments working together to solve problems. So much better was the groundbreaking for the new train station in Christiansburg showing the power of collective action rather than adversarial name-calling.
Equally shocking in this recent column was opinion celebrating changes in federal regulation of our universities. With Virginia Tech and Radford University in our midst, driving the economic well-being of our region, it is difficult to understand why any local politician would praise federal imposition on our universities. Let’s be clear, our existing system of university, government, and business collaboration has led to the United States leading the world in innovation. Our nation’s economic health is a direct result of advancements fostered in our universities. In particular, Virginia Tech, the Commonwealth’s land grant institution, has made tremendous contributions, with enormous strength in engineering and agriculture, among others. Partnerships commonly take the form of Virginia Tech successfully competing for financial support in collaboration with industry and government researchers, successfully conducting the research, and with results literally changing the world! Clearly, the university system in the United States is unmatched in its excellence and its impact, and Virginia Tech is a major contributor.
Yet, recently Virginia Tech, along with many other fine institutions throughout the nation, is having its federal financial support cut. Virginia Tech has about $1.6 billion in federally sponsored research. Recently, at least 25 federal grants were terminated, and another 12 are under full or partial stop-work orders. About $18 million is also at risk from reduction in federal reimbursement of indirect costs. These reductions are to existing contracts! Think of how this would affect you if you had a contract to do work, and in the midst of the work you were simply informed that there would be a major reduction in your pay. Universities largely do not have the option to simply walk away from the job. It is a major part of the university mission to do this type of work. Furthermore, livelihoods depend on these contracts. Additionally, very unclear are future opportunities for government funded research, greatly hindering future planning. More details about these cuts are available at: https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/04/15/virginia-tech-grants-impacted-by-federal-cuts/.
U.S. universities have long attracted the best and the brightest from the around the world. While some take their knowledge home, many see the wonderful opportunities in the United States and remain. Brain drain from other countries has clearly helped the U.S., as the best often stay here and drive economic progress. Now, Europe (and perhaps other areas) see opportunities to attract leading researchers from the United States. For example, the “Choose Europe for Science” program has about a half a billion dollars in funding to attract researchers from the United States. Simply put, if our universities can no longer attract and retain the best students, faculty and researchers, it is impossible to predict that the United States will keep its clear current status as the world’s innovator. And – it’s that innovation that has driven our nation’s economic health. Surely, we don’t want to lose that. Here is the New River Valley, home to Virginia Tech and Radford Universities, it is particularly important that universities are allowed to thrive. Go Hokies and Highlanders!
Gary Silverman
Columnist
