# Cato’s Gillen Lays out Roadmap to Break the Left’s Grip on Academia 

It is no secret that the political left has dominated universities throughout the country, but now the Trump administration is trying to reverse that.

July 28, 2026 • News Releases 

It is no secret that the political left has dominated universities throughout the country, but now the Trump administration is trying to reverse that. But politicized education is a problem no matter which side is in control. In a new [op-ed](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fmindingthecampus.org*2F2026*2F07*2F28*2Fhow-to-depoliticize-higher-education*2F/1/0100019fa95c94e0-f9351660-3585-499c-bd58-745235a876f9-000000/k8de7QDYal_ubjm6GckgfX8TRfc=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmM1MDY3OWMzYWE0NzlmZWQzZDgzMzhmN2Q1ZWNjOGM1Ojc6NDIxYzo1M2NjYWMwZDczZTI0NmEwZTIyNDUzZTZjOWFjOTdlNzdkNWJiMTVlYjI2ZDI4YzE4NzFlOWFjMzlkNzQ4MzEyOmg6VDpO), [Andrew Gillen ](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fandrew-gillen/1/0100019fa95c94e0-f9351660-3585-499c-bd58-745235a876f9-000000/q734dR-UhLbCKF2aT2L9-L3eHUo=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmM1MDY3OWMzYWE0NzlmZWQzZDgzMzhmN2Q1ZWNjOGM1Ojc6YWVlNDo2MGIzYjM4NTZmOTMyZGYxYzJhNjc5MzYxMWI4NjNhYmViZmUxNDAwNzU0MDFlNTE1MTFjNTBkM2Y3M2FiMGZmOmg6VDpO)details how to implement successful depoliticization of higher education, writing in part:

> *“The key to successful reform, therefore, is to essentially exploit the existing faculty selection process to create a dissident university within the existing university. The ICEHE method identifies five key markers that increase the likelihood of success: independence, competition for students, equitable funding, hiring freedom, and an even playing field. This method is the most likely path to competitive coexistence, which is necessary to restore and maintain a functioning higher education system.”*

To speak with Gillen, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

[![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 
This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).