Higher Education & The Trump Administration

President Trump’s return to office has ushered in significant changes to federal policy affecting colleges and universities.

From proposals to dismantle the Department of Education to efforts to roll back diversity and civil rights protections, the administration is pursuing a broad restructuring of higher education’s policy landscape—undermining research, curbing global engagement, and threatening the sector’s public funding foundation.

This page organizes key actions under the Trump administration by topic area. Each section highlights executive orders, agency guidance, and ACE responses to help institutions track developments, assess risk, and prepare for continued disruption.

Executive Orders and Actions Impacting Higher Education

read the summary (PDF)

Executive Order Overview & Tracker (Akin Gump)

OverviewTracker

Federal Funding and Government Restructuring

The administration is moving to fundamentally reshape the role of the federal government in higher education. Proposals include dismantling the Department of Education, drastically reducing discretionary funding for research, and freezing grants already supporting critical work. These cuts not only jeopardize institutions' ability to serve students but also threaten innovation in areas like health care, energy, and technology—sectors that rely on federally funded university research to drive economic growth.

Higher Education Association Lawsuits Challenge NIH and DOE Cuts to F&A Reimbursement

News and Resources

Lawsuits Related to the Freeze on Payments for Grants & Contracts & Removal of Information from Government Websites (COGR)

View

Executive Orders and Actions

Federal Register: 2025 Donald J. Trump Executive Orders

Protecting American Energy from State Overreach (April 8, 2025)

Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy (March 14, 2025)

Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative (February 26, 2025)

America First Investment Policy (February 21, 2025)

Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Deregulatory Initiative (February 19, 2025)

Radical Transparency About Wasteful Spending (February 18, 2025)

Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative (February 11, 2025)

Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation (January 31, 2025)

OMB Q&A Document on Federal Funding Freeze (January 28, 2025)

OMB Memo to Federal Agencies on Temporary Funding Freeze (January 27, 2025)

OMB Instructions for Federal Program Analysis

Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid (January 20, 2025)

Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions (January 20, 2025)

Regulatory Freeze Pending Review (January 20, 2025)

Agency Guidance and Announcements

Adjusting Department of Energy Grant Policy for Institutions of Higher Education (April 11, 2025) | Department of Energy

Guidance on Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested by Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative (February 26, 2025) | Office of Management and Budget & Office of Personnel Management

Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates (February 7, 2025) | National Institutes of Health

NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders (updated regularly) |National Science Foundation

Notice on Implementation of Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid (January 24, 2025) | U.S. Agency for International Development

Memorandum to the Heads of Departments and Agencies: Guidance Regarding Section 7 of the Executive Order Unleashing American Energy (January 21, 2025) | Office of Management and Budget

Immediate Pause on Issuing Documents and Public Communications (January 21, 2025) |Department of Health and Human Services

Memorandum for Heads of Departmental Elements: Agency-wide Review of Program and Administrative Activities (January 20, 2025) | Department of Energy

ACE Resources

Department of Education and Civil Rights

The Department of Education is central to enforcing civil rights protections and providing oversight that ensures access, accountability, and fairness in higher education. Under the Trump administration, enforcement offices have been downsized and guidance has shifted to prioritize institutional deregulation. These changes weaken protections for students and make it harder for colleges to fulfill their mission of equitable opportunity and student success.

Executive Orders and Actions

Ordering the shutdown of the Department of Education: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities (March 20, 2025)

Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness (March 7, 2025)

Keeping Education Accessible and Ending Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates in Schools (February 15, 2025)

Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism (January 29, 2025)

Agency Guidance and Announcements

Frequently Asked Questions About Racial Preferences and Stereotypes Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (PDF) (February 28, 2025) | Department of Education

Dear Colleague Letter on the Use of Race in Policies and Programs (PDF) (February 14, 2025) | Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Probes Cases of Antisemitism at Five Universities (February 3, 2025) | Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Takes Action to Eliminate DEI (January 23, 2025) | Department of Education

Justice Department Announces Formation of Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism (February 3, 2025) | Department of Justice

HHS’ Civil Rights Office Acts Swiftly to Combat Anti-Semitism (February 3, 2025) | Department of Health and Human Services

ACE Resources

ACE News Stories

ACE President Ted Mitchell: Trump’s Order to Dismantle ED Is “Political Theater” | March 21, 2025

Massive Layoffs at Department of Education Spark Concern Across Higher Education | March 12, 2025

ACE, Higher Education Groups Urge Department of Education to Rescind DEI “Dear Colleague” Letter | February 27, 2025

Senate Questions McMahon on the Future of the Education Department, DEI, and Student Aid in Confirmation Hearing | February 14, 2025

OMB Funding Pause, More EOs Mark Hectic Week for Higher Ed | February 3, 2025

Trump’s Executive Orders Shift Higher Education Landscape | January 27, 2025

dotEDU

Latest on Dismantling of the ED, International Students, and Budget Issues | April 3, 2025

What the Department of Education Layoffs Mean for Colleges and Universities | March 20, 2025

More Policy Shifts, More Uncertainty for Colleges | March 5, 2025

Statements

Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on President Trump's Executive Order to Dismantle the Department of Education | March 20, 2025

Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on Sweeping Layoffs at the Department of Education | March 11, 2025

Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on the Nomination of Linda McMahon to be Secretary of Education | November 20, 2024

Letters

Letter to the Department of Education on FY 2025 Appropriations (PDF) | April 7, 2025

Letter to Department of Education Office of Civil Rights on DEI Dear Colleague Letter (PDF) | February 25, 2025

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Federal actions targeting DEI programs are part of a broader national effort to roll back progress on racial and gender equity. On campuses, this includes efforts to restrict inclusive hiring practices, curriculum, and student support services, and even threatening to go beyond what the Supreme Court’s Students for Fair Admissions decision actually permits. These moves interfere with institutions’ legal discretion and ability to foster their committment to fairness and opportunity.

Executive Orders and Actions

Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (January 21, 2025)

Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferences (January 20, 2025)

Agency Guidance and Announcements

Dear Colleague Letter on the Use of Race in Policies and Programs (PDF) (February 14, 2025) | Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education Takes Action to Eliminate DEI (January 23, 2025) | Department of Education

Rescission of DEI, CBP, and Justice40 Policy Flashes, Acquisition Letters, and Financial Assistance Letters (January 31, 2025) | Department of Energy

Memorandum for All DOE Funding Agreements or Awards: Cease all activities associated with DEI and CBP (January 27, 2025) | Department of Energy

Initial Guidance Regarding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility (DEIA) Executive Orders (January 23, 2025) | NASA

Immediate Implementation of Executive Orders “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (January 22, 2025) | Department of Labor

Initial Guidance Regarding DEIA Executive Orders (January 21, 2025) | Office of Personnel Management

Amendment 109: Removing DEIA Requirements from ROSES-2024 (January 20, 2025) | NASA

ACE Resources

ACE News Stories

ACE, Higher Education Groups Urge Department of Education to Rescind DEI “Dear Colleague” Letter | February 27, 2025

Federal Judges Block DEI Orders, Extend Pause on NIH Cuts | February 24, 2025

Senate Questions McMahon on the Future of the Education Department, DEI, and Student Aid in Confirmation Hearing | February 14, 2025

OMB Funding Pause, More EOs Mark Hectic Week for Higher Ed | February 3, 2025

Trump’s Executive Orders Shift Higher Education Landscape | January 27, 2025

dotEDU

More Policy Shifts, More Uncertainty for Colleges | March 5, 2025

The Future of Campus Diversity and Student Support | February 19, 2025

Letters

Letter to Department of Education Office of Civil Rights on DEI Dear Colleague Letter (PDF) | February 25, 2025

Immigration and International Students

Visa cancellations, policy reversals, and increased scrutiny of international students are creating instability across U.S. campuses. These actions not only disrupt educational pathways but also undermine a vital pipeline of global talent that fuels research, innovation, and America’s standing in the world. Higher education remains one of the nation’s strongest diplomatic and economic assets—its global reputation now at risk.

Executive Orders and Actions

Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders (February 19, 2025)

Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions (January 20, 2025)

Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (January 20, 2025)

Protecting the American People Against Invasion (January 20, 2025)

America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State (January 20, 2025)

Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship (January 20, 2025)

Agency Guidance and Announcements

DHS to Begin Screening Aliens’ Social Media Activity for Antisemitism (April 9, 2025)

ACE Resources

ACE News Stories

ACE, Higher Ed Associations Demand Answers as Student Visa Revocations Spread Nationwide | April 7, 2025

OMB Funding Pause, More EOs Mark Hectic Week for Higher Ed | February 3, 2025

Trump’s Executive Orders Shift Higher Education Landscape | January 27, 2025

Letters

Letter to Secretaries Marco Rubio and Kristi Noem on Visa Revocations and Student Deportations (PDF) | April 4, 2025

Letter to Secretary Marco Rubio on Engagement Between Higher Education and the State Department (PDF) | February 3, 2025

Issue Brief

Gender and Title IX

The Trump administration has taken steps to significantly restrict federal protections related to sex, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ rights in education. An executive order issued in January could reshape how the government enforces not just Title IX but also other civil rights laws, by narrowing the definition of sex and gender. The administration has also rescinded Biden-era guidance expanding protections for transgender students.