The federal government should not control hiring and firing of faculty at universities
Democrats89%
Republicans65%
Independents77%
Source: The Economist/YouGov, Aug. 19, 2025
Chart: Americans Agree
Chart: Americans Agree
University Hiring
The Economist/YouGov, Aug. 19, 2025
Details
| Question | Do you think the federal government should or should not control the following at universities? |
| Item | Hiring and firing of faculty |
| Response | Should not control |
| Poll Main Page | A new high for Trump disapproval, Democrats' House vote lead, wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and universities |
| Interview Period | Aug. 15, 2025 to Aug. 18, 2025 |
| Sample Size | 1,568 |
| Policy Context | When this poll was conducted in August 2025, the Trump administration had been pushing to influence university hiring policies, including by threatening to withhold federal funding and to strip universities’ tax-exempt status. |