Rep. Elise Stefanik, a member of the U.S. Congress representing New York’s 21st district since 2015, has taken to social media to express her concerns regarding recent developments in education and state governance. Her posts address issues ranging from higher education leadership to state budgetary decisions and campus protests.
On May 7, 2025, Stefanik criticized the president of Haverford College for attending a congressional hearing on antisemitism with prepared flashcards. She remarked that this approach lacked genuine convictions and moral clarity, describing it as indicative of current higher education leadership being “scripted, spineless, and coached to the bone.” “The president of Haverford showed up to a congressional hearing on antisemitism with flashcards of pre-written answers. Not convictions. Not moral clarity. Flashcards.”
Later that day, Stefanik turned her attention to Governor Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats, accusing them of embedding language in the state budget to improperly use taxpayer money for Attorney General Letitia James’ legal defense against allegations of mortgage fraud. She described this move as reaching “a new low” in their “corrupt, far-left agenda.” “Gov. Hochul and Albany Democrats reached a new low in their corrupt, far-left agenda by sneaking language into the state budget that misuses hardworking New Yorkers’ tax dollars to bankroll Letitia James’ legal defense against serious allegations of mortgage fraud.”
In another post on May 7, Stefanik addressed ongoing protests at Columbia University where students are reportedly disrupted by chants advocating for a “global intifada.” She echoed former President Donald Trump’s stance that federal funding should not support universities permitting such activities on their campuses. “While Columbia students try to study for finals, they’re being bombarded with chants for a ‘global intifada.’ President @realDonaldTrump is right: not a single taxpayer dollar should go to a university that allows chaos, antisemitism, and civil rights violations on its campus.”
Elise Stefanik was born in Albany in 1984 and currently resides in Schuylerville. A Harvard University graduate with an AB degree, she succeeded Bill Owens in representing New York’s 21st district.
