President Donald Trump has pledged to sign an executive order that would block federal research dollars to universities that fail to protect free speech, but two groups representing higher education institutions say such a move is unnecessary.

Trump announced the upcoming executive order during a speech Saturday to the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md. He was responding to complaints by conservative activists that conservative speakers and students are routinely silenced on college campuses, although critics allege such claims are wildly exaggerated.

"We reject oppressive speech codes, censorship, political correctness and every other attempt by the hard left to stop people from challenging ridiculous and dangerous ideas. These ideas are dangerous," Trump said, as reported by The Hill. "Instead we believe in free speech, including online and including on campus." http://bit.ly/2Eu7Wnu

Trump didn't spell out how his administration would decide which universities are protecting free speech or which research funds could potentially get cut. In a statement, Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, said public institutions already have a First Amendment obligation to protect free speech.

"It is an obligation they take very seriously and work hard to protect," he said. "Our campuses serve as important forums for the debate of diverse ideas. An executive order is unnecessary as public research universities are already bound by the First Amendment, which they deeply respect and honor. It is core to their academic mission."

Terry Hartle, senior vice president for government and public affairs at the American Council on Education, took a sharper tone in an interview with the news site Inside Higher Ed. He predicted some people would allege their free speech rights had been trampled just to stir up controversy. He also noted religious universities that receive government grants often require campus speakers to comply with their religious teachings, which could run afoul of the executive order.

"As always in the current environment, irony does come into play," Hartle added. "This is an administration that stifles the views of its own research scientists if they are counter to the political views of the administration, such as on climate change. And the president vigorously attacks people like Colin Kaepernick who exercise their free speech rights." http://bit.ly/2NH4NVz

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