HEADLINES: Top Higher Education News for the Week

April 18, 2025

The Hechinger Report looks at higher education’s developing response to the Trump administration’s attacks on the sector... The Hill explores President Trump’s threat to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status... The Trump administration warned Harvard it may try to prevent Harvard from enrolling international students, The Wall Street Journal reports... Inside Higher Ed examines how the Trump administration has weaponized institutions’ federal funding against them.

Trump Is Bullying, Blackmailing and Threatening Colleges, and They Are Just Beginning to Fight Back
The Hechinger Report | April 17, 2025

Trump Threatens Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status: What to Know
The Hill | April 17, 2025

Trump Threatens Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | April 17, 2025

What to Know About Trump’s Strategy Targeting Colleges’ Grants and Contracts
Inside Higher Ed | April 18, 2025

April 17, 2025

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Energy from capping indirect costs at 15 percent, E&E News reports... According to The Washington Post, President Trump lacks the legal authority to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status... CNN considers the national and global implications of reduced federal research funding... The Trump administration’s cuts to Harvard’s funding impact studies on topics including tuberculosis, ALS, and radiation sickness in space travel, The New York Times writes.

Judge Blocks DOE Plan to Slash $405M From Universities
E&E News (sub. req.) | April 16, 2025

Can Trump Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status? What to Know About the Law.
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | April 16, 2025

iPhones and GPS Owe Their Existence to US Government-Funded Research. What’s at Stake With Trump Cuts to University Funding
CNN | April 17, 2025

Space Travel and Tuberculosis Research Are Hit by Trump’s Harvard Cuts
The New York Times (sub. req.) | April 16, 2025

April 16, 2025

ACE President Ted Mitchell speaks to NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, and NPR about the impact of the government’s decision to freeze federal funds to Harvard and other universities… The Associated Press reports that international students are worried about losing their student visas and being deported... The NIH resumed some meetings on grant reviews this week, Inside Higher Ed reports.

Trump Administration Freezes More Than $2 Billion After Harvard Rejects Demands
NBC News | April 15, 2025

What to Know as Trump Freezes Federal Funds for Harvard and Other Universities
The New York Times (sub. req.) | April 15, 2025

Higher Ed War Heats Up as Trump Threatens Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status
NPR | April 15, 2025

Visa Cancellations Sow Panic for International Students, With Hundreds Fearing Deportation
The Associated Press | April 16, 2025

NIH Resumes Key Grant Review Panels
Inside Higher Ed | April 16, 2025

April 15, 2025

The Trump administration suspended over $2 billion in funding for Harvard University after the university rejected a list of demands from the government, The New York Times and The Chronicle of Higher Education report... Inside Higher Ed explores the potential consequences of massive cuts to the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights... ACE, along with two other associations and nine universities, sued the Department of Energy over its new policy to cap indirect cost reimbursement at 15 percent, Higher Ed Dive writes.

Trump Administration Will Freeze $2 Billion After Harvard Refuses Demands
The New York Times (sub. req.) | April 14, 2025

As Trump Freezes Billions in Funding, Harvard Steels Itself for a Fight
The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | April 14, 2025

A Reduced Civil Rights Office Could Leave Students and Institutions in Limbo
Inside Higher Ed | April 15, 2025

Colleges Sue Over Energy Department’s New 15% Cap on Indirect Research Costs
Higher Ed Dive | April 14, 2025

April 14, 2025

The Department of Energy said that it would cut an estimated $405 million from grant funding for colleges and universities by limiting indirect cost rates to 15 percent… Federal financial aid programs at the Department of Education are starting to face issues after the Trump administration issued large staffing cuts at the agency, The Washington Post reports… Inside Higher Ed looks at how the Trump administration is trying to change the college admissions process… The National Endowment for the Humanities sent termination notices to 65 percent of its employees, Inside Higher Ed reports… Higher Ed Dive covers last week’s ASU+GSV Summit.

Energy Department Reduces Funding for Grants to Colleges and Universities
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | April 12, 2025

College Financial Aid Hit With Glitches, Delays Due to Federal Staffing Cuts
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | April 14, 2025

Is Admissions Trump’s Next Higher Ed Target?
Inside Higher Ed | April 14, 2025

‘Draconian’ Layoffs, Grant Terminations Come for the NEH
Inside Higher Ed | April 14, 2025

3 Takeaways on Higher Education Innovation From the ASU+GSV Summit
Higher Ed Dive | April 14, 2025

ACE Op-Eds

Letters to the Editor