Higher Education & The Trump Administration Transition

White House/Executive Actions

From the White House

OMB Funding Freeze

Immigrants and International Students

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Gender and Title IX

Other

Other Resources

Executive Order Overview & Tracker (Akin Gump)

Executive Orders: An Introduction
Congressional Research Service (March 29, 2021)

Education Department and Other Agency Guidance

U.S. Department of Education Takes Action to Eliminate DEI
Department of Education

Other Agencies

From Colleges and Universities

Institutional Communications on Federal Funding Updates
Council on Government Relations

ACE Resources

dotEDU, the ACE Policy Podcast

dotEDU Live: What the Trump Administration’s Funding Freeze Means for Higher Education
The Trump administration’s broad freeze on federal grants sparked confusion across higher ed—until a judge blocked it just before taking effect. In this Jan. 28 episode, Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja break down the fast-moving developments. Later, ACE President Ted Mitchell joins Jon and Sarah to discuss what’s at stake and what’s next for colleges, universities, and students. (Aired January 29, 2025)

dotEDU Live: Navigating Trump’s First Week
Jon Fansmith, Mushtaq Gunja, and Sarah Spreitzer break down the early days of the Trump administration’s second term and its impact on higher education. (Aired January 24, 2025)

dotEDU Live: Higher Education’s Path Forward in Trump’s Second Term
In this episode of dotEDU Live, Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are joined by a full team of ACE experts—Steven Bloom, Peter McDonough, and Emmanual Guillory—to take a deeper look at what the post-election landscape looks like for higher education policy. (Aired December 12, 2024)

dotEDU Live: What Trump’s Win and a New Congress Mean for Higher Education
In this special post-election episode recorded on November 6, ACE President Ted Mitchell joined hosts Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja to discuss the 2024 election results and their implications for higher education. (Aired November 7, 2024)

Issue Briefs

President Trump’s Executive Orders Impacting Higher Education

Immigration-Related Campus Concerns

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Letters

Letter to New Members of the 119th Congress (January 15, 2025)

ACE Policy Recommendations to 2024 Presidential Candidates (October 15, 2024)

News Stories and Blog Posts

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

ED Finalizes Biden-Era Regulations, Withdraws Proposals Amid Transition (January 15, 2025)

Dear President-elect Trump: Higher Education Builds America | By Ted Mitchell (January 6, 2025)

ACE Calls for Policy Focus on Higher Education in Presidential Campaigns (September 16, 2024)

Statements 

Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on Federal Assistance Pause (January 29, 2025)

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

Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on the Election of Donald J. Trump (November 6, 2024)

 
 
 
​In the News

Trump Threatens to Deport International Students and Scholars Who Protested the War in Gaza
The Chronicle of Higher Education (Jan. 29, 2025)

Trump White House Rescinds Order Freezing Federal Spending, Reversing Course
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Jan. 29, 2025

Higher Ed Alarmed by Trump’s Plan to Freeze Federal Grants
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 28, 2025

College Leaders Galvanize to Fight the Anti-DEI ‘Chaos’
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 27, 2025

UC, a Top Recipient of Federal Research Funding, is Concerned About Trump Pause on Grant Reviews
Los Angeles Times (sub. req.) | Jan. 25, 2025

The Chaos in Higher Ed Is Only Getting Started
The Atlantic | Jan. 24, 2025

Scientists Worried After Trump Halts NIH Grant Reviews
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 24, 2025

Trump Alarms Scientists by Muzzling US Health Agencies
Bloomberg Law | Jan. 23, 2025

Nothing short of a bombshell.’ Trump takes aim at DEI — and universities.
The Boston Globe (sub. req.) | Jan. 23, 2025

In First Days, Trump Deals ‘Death Blow’ to DEI and Affirmative Action
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Jan. 23, 2025

A Judge Deals President Trump His fFrst Setback in His Effort to Rewrite Immigration Law
The New York Times (sub. req.) | Jan. 23, 2025

Trump Takes Aim at DEI in Higher Ed
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 23, 2025

OPM Creates Email Account to Report Suspected Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
FedScoop | Jan. 22, 2025

Trump Has Issued a Blitz of Executive Orders. Some Could Affect Higher Ed.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | Jan. 21, 2025

Trump DOJ Orders Probes Into State, Local Immigration Resistors
Bloomberg Law | Jan. 21, 2025

Hopes and Fears: Higher Ed Leaders Sound Off on Trump’s Return to Power
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 20, 2025