Washington, D.C. – Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a staunch Trump loyalist and MAGA firebrand, warned U.S. colleges and universities on Friday, via X that Congress is “watching closely” to ensure they take “the right action by firing professors who celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk or circulated videos glorifying his assassination.”
Luna, who previously worked as director of Hispanic engagement for Turning Point USA (TPUSA), Kirk’s organization, threatened to cut off all federal funding from any institution that refuses, stating, “any university that refuses to do the right thing will be cut off from all federal funding from the United States gov.”
The post comes amid a national outcry over Kirk’s assassination on September 10, at Utah Valley University (UVU), with reports of professors and students expressing glee online prompting investigations and calls for accountability.
Luna’s Warning and Context
Luna’s X post, read: “Every college and university in this country must understand that Congress is watching closely what universities take the right action by firing professors who celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk or circulated videos glorifying his assassination. @derrickvanorden has been highlighting many of these cases and I can promise you: any university that refuses to do the right thing will be cut off from all federal funding from the United States gov.”
She tagged Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), a fellow Republican who has amplified reports of campus reactions to Kirk’s death.
The threat leverages Congress’s control over federal funding, which totals $149 billion annually for higher education, including $120 billion in grants and loans, per the Department of Education.
Luna, a member of the House Oversight Committee, has previously pushed for defunding universities over perceived biases, including a 2024 bill to cut funding for institutions promoting “critical race theory.” Her warning aligns with GOP efforts to hold campuses accountable, following reports of professors like one at UC Berkeley tweeting “good riddance” to Kirk on September 10, per Van Orden’s X thread, which highlighted 15 cases nationwide.
Kirk, 31, a father of two and TPUSA co-founder, was assassinated during a speaking event at UVU on September 10, shot in the neck from a rooftop.
Campus Reactions and Investigations
Van Orden’s thread, posted September 11, detailed instances of professors and students celebrating Kirk’s death, including a University of Michigan instructor sharing a video of the shooting with “finally” caption, and a NYU student posting “one less fascist.”
The thread received 50,000 views, prompting Luna’s response. Universities have responded variably: UVU placed two faculty on leave on September 11 for “inappropriate” social media posts, per university statement. UC Berkeley condemned the comments but has not fired the professor, facing a GOP letter from Reps. Luna and Van Orden demanding action by September 15.
Other cases include a Stanford lecturer tweeting “karma” on September 10, leading to an internal review, and a Texas A&M student group disbanded after glorifying the assassination. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) reported 20 incidents of anti-Kirk sentiment on campuses Friday, warning of free speech violations in firings but supporting investigations into hate speech.
On X, #FireProfessors and #JusticeForCharlie trended with 300,000 posts. Supporters like @MagaStrong2026 posted, “Luna is right—defund these woke universities celebrating murder,” critics @ACLU said, “Threatening funding over speech is censorship—protect academic freedom.”
Every college and university in this country must understand that Congress is watching closely what universities take the right action by firing professors who celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk or circulated videos glorifying his assassination. @derrickvanorden has been…
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) September 12, 2025
Luna’s Background and Political Ties
Luna, 36, elected in 2022 to Florida’s 13th District, is a former TPUSA staffer and vocal Trump supporter, sponsoring bills like the “Trump Derangement Syndrome” definition in 2025.
She chairs the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has pushed defunding initiatives, including a July bill cutting $1 billion from universities over “anti-Israel bias.” Her warning echoes Trump’s September 10 address blaming left rhetoric for “terrorism,” including Kirk’s death.
The threat risks legal challenges under the First Amendment, with FIRE warning of viewpoint discrimination. Federal funding cuts require congressional approval, but Luna’s Oversight role gives leverage via investigations.
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Kirk’s assassination has inflamed U.S. politics: far-right figures like Bannon called it a “casualty of war,” EU Parliament rejected a minute of silence on Thursday, sparking protests. As investigations into campus reactions proceed, Luna’s threat may lead to hearings; Van Orden plans a resolution by September 20.
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