Higher Education as a Strategic Asset in a Disrupted Landscape

Throughout American history, higher education has been a catalyst for progress and transformation, shaping individual lives and strengthening society. From the nation’s founding to the digital age, education has driven innovation, economic growth, social mobility, and national security. Universities today serve as engines of economic prosperity through research innovation and commercialization, as drivers of regional economic success and development of the talent our nation needs, while their contributions to defense research, cybersecurity, strategic analysis, and our democratic institutions strengthen national security. This is why we must reaffirm higher education’s role as a strategic asset—even amid political polarization and institutional strain.