Education Dept. asks MIT and peers to publicly answer seven higher-ed questions by year-end

Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a letter to all universities asking them to publicly respond online by the end of 2026 to seven questions on admissions transparency, free speech on campus, hiring and research outputs, affordability, academic rigor, safeguards against foreign influence, and economic contributions, framing it as a dialogue rather than a punitive mandate. MIT and other leaders are reviewing the request after consultation with the AAU, and this approach follows earlier talks about a reform compact that some schools did not join.