President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday requiring U.S. colleges to protect free speech on their campuses or risk losing federal research funding. Under the order, colleges would need to agree to protect free speech in order to tap into more than $35 billion a year in research and educational grants. "This executive order will only muddle policies surrounding free speech, while doing nothing to further the aim of the First Amendment." The top Republican on the Senate education committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, said he supports the push for free speech but criticized Trump's approach. Separate from the free speech requirement, the order also calls for several measures meant to promote transparency in the student loan industry and in how well colleges prepare students.

Source: ABC News March 21, 2019 20:52 UTC