dotEDU

The dotEDU hosts look back at a year that reshaped higher education in ways few expected back in January. Mushtaq, Sarah, and Jon talk through their top five stories of 2025, including the push to dismantle the Department of Education, the cuts at NIH and NSF, the sweeping changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill, and Congress's response to it all. Here are some of the links and references from this week's show: Register now for ACEx, Feb. 25-28, 2026, in Washington, DC Higher Education & The Trump Administration: Resources Trump Administration Higher Ed Executive Order Tracker Full coverage of the 2nd Trump administration from The Chronicle of Higher Education The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine The New York Times (sub. req.) | Oct. 3, 2025

For International Education Week, Sarah and Jon talk with Dr. Judyth Sachs, chief academic officer at Studiosity, about the pressures students face across borders—well-being, finances, language, and the challenge of feeling at home on campus—and how these issues are shaping the choices international students make about where to study. Sachs also offers a frank view of how "Brand USA" is being perceived abroad and what that means for global competition for students and scholars. But first, the hosts walk through the newest Open Doors data showing a 17 percent drop in new international student enrollment and what the numbers suggest about visa policy, research funding, and the trajectory of U.S. higher education in the year ahead. Here are some of the links and references from this week's show: 2025 Open Doors Report Open Doors Data Portal IIE Press Release on Open Doors 2025 Studiosity website Studiosity Global Student Wellbeing Survey Australian Government Department of Education Student Experience Survey (SES) – International Key Findings From Cash Cows to Valued Voices Report (Australia) International Students and the Australian Economy (Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin) — July 2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill may have made headlines but now comes the hard part: writing the rules. In this episode of dotEDU, we unpack the Education Department's massive regulatory to-do list, from loan caps and professional degree definitions to new Pell and accountability rules. But first: the government shutdown has ended. What's next? Here are some of the links and references from this week's show: Register now for ACEx, Feb. 25-28, 2026, in Washington, DC Reopening the Federal Government With Government Reopened, Will Education Department Staff Return? Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 12, 2025 FIPSE Notice Federal Register Announcement Nov. 12, 2025 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Home Page Department of Education ED's 'Special Projects' Grants Spark Concern Over Congressional Intent Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 12, 2025 Negotiated Rulemaking Summary: One Big Beautiful Bill Act ACE Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2025 Department of Education Comments on the Education Department's Proposal to Implement the One Big Beautiful Bill ACE | Aug. 29, 2025 How the Loan Cap Committee Reached Consensus Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 10, 2025 ED Panel to Weigh Sorting of Grad and Professional Programs Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 26, 2025

The Trump administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence" faces near-universal rejection from the nation's leading universities, even as the White House continues to look for takers. Hosts Mushtaq Gunja, Jon Fansmith, and Sarah Spreitzer unpack why the compact's demands are legally shaky and practically unworkable. Then they turn to UVA's separate civil rights settlement, what it signals for Title VI enforcement, and how DOJ's growing role is reshaping oversight. Also in this episode: the shutdown that isn't shutting down, deep cuts to the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights and TRIO programs, and the new $100,000 H-1B visa fee. Here are some of the links and references from this week's show: The Trump Administration's Higher Education Compact Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education White House Statement by Higher Education Associations in Opposition to Trump Administration Compact ACE | Oct. 17, 2025 How the Trump administration is pressuring universities to fall in line NPR | Oct. 27, 2025 UVA UVA reaches agreement with US Justice Department on outstanding compliance investigations UVA Today Government Shutdown and Higher Ed Federal Judge Indefinitely Blocks Trump's Latest Layoffs Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 29, 2025 H-1B Visas Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers White House | Sept. 19, 2025 ACE, Higher Ed Groups Warn New H-1B Policies Could Undermine U.S. Competitiveness ACE | Oct. 27, 2025 Letter to DHS on H-1B Visa Fee Increase (PDF) ACE | Oct. 23, 2025 Comments to DHS on the Proposed H-1B Lottery Rule (PDF) ACE | Oct. 24, 2025 Higher Ed Institutions Raise Concerns About H-1B Visa Fee Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 29, 2025 Higher Ed Groups Push for Colleges To Be Exempt From $100K H-1B Visa Fee Higher Ed Dive | Oct. 29, 2025

The Trump administration’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence” lands on nine campuses with vague perks and 23 demands, including tuition freezes, international caps, and “viewpoint diversity” audits. Hosts Mushtaq Gunja, Jon Fansmith, and Sarah Spreitzer ask can they do that?—then discuss the shutdown’s real impacts, week one of negotiated rulemaking, the stalled $100,000 H-1B fee, and a Dear Colleague reminder on federal funds and lobbying. Here are some of the links and resources from this week’s show: Economic Indicator Tool The Economic Impact of Higher Education in America The Trump Administration's Higher Education Compact Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education White House White House Calls for Institutions to Sign Compact With Federal Government ACE | Oct. 3, 2025 Trump’s Proposed ‘Compact’ Asks Colleges to Show They’re ‘Pursuing Federal Priorities’ The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | Oct. 2, 2025 OPINION: Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion The New York Times (sub. req.) | Oct. 2, 2025 Higher Ed Sounds Off on Proposed Compact Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 6, 2025 Government Shutdown and Higher Ed Government Shutdown Could Set Off Uncertainty for Research, Oversight, Some Student Benefits and Services ACE | Sept. 30, 2025 From the Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2025 Reminder Regarding Prohibited Use of Federal Grants Funds for Lobbying and Allowable Membership Costs What Would a Shutdown Mean for Rule Making? Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 29, 2025

The Trump administration is cutting off or moving funding for TRIO, GEAR UP, and MSI programs—even though Congress approved the money. Hosts Mushtaq Gunja, Jon Fansmith, and Sarah Spreitzer explain what’s happening, why it matters, and what colleges should do next. ACE President Ted Mitchell also joins to discuss the need to protect free expression and civil dialogue on campus following the murder of Charlie Kirk. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: U.S. Department of Education Ends Funding to Racially Discriminatory Discretionary Grant Programs at Minority-Serving Institutions Department of Education | September 10, 2025 Trump Administration Delays $660M for College Access Programs Inside Higher Ed | September 12, 2025 Trump Redirects Millions to Historically Black Colleges, Charter Schools The New York Times (sub. req.) | September 15, 2025 RESTRICTION ON ENTRY OF CERTAIN NONIMMIGRANT WORKERS White House | September 19, 2025 Trump to Impose $100,000 Fee Per Year for H-1B Visas, in Blow to Tech Reuters | September 20, 2025 White House Tries to Tamp Down Corporate Panic for High-skill Visa Holders after Last-minute Overhaul Politico | September 20, 2025

dotEDU is back for Season 7 with an examination of President Trump's demand for admissions data by race and sex and what that means for campuses. Hosts Mushtaq Gunja, Jon Fansmith, and Sarah Spreitzer—joined by ACE’s Hiro Okahana—explain what’s being requested, what’s lawful, and the need to avoid misleading metrics and protect student privacy. Plus: updates on international students, Harvard’s funding-freeze case, and the outlook on appropriations for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: Trump Memo on Admissions Data Ensuring Transparency in Higher Education Admission The White House | August 7, 2025 U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Directs National Center for Education Statistics to Collect Universities’ Data on Race Discrimination in Admissions U.S Department of Education | August 7, 2025 Trump Administration Orders Colleges to Submit New Admissions Data ACE | August 11, 2025 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) IPEDS Inaccurate, impossible: Experts knock new Trump plan to collect college admissions data The Hechinger Report | August 18, 2025 Trump’s college admissions changes could backfire Politico | August 15, 2025 Higher Education & The Trump Administration ACE International Students DHS Proposal to Replace Duration of Status NAFSA | September 9, 2025 Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media Federal Register | August 28, 2025 Letter to Secretary Rubio Urging Exemption of F/J/M Visas from Travel Ban (PDF) ACE Harvard Ruling Federal Court Backs Harvard in Ruling, Echoing Concerns Raised in ACE Brief ACE | September 5, 2025 FY 2026 Appropriations House Bill Preserves Pell, Slashes Other Student Aid Programs ACE | September 5, 2025 Senate Appropriators Reject Trump’s Proposed Pell Grant and NIH Cuts ACE | August 4, 2025 A Brief Guide to the Federal Budget and Appropriations Process ACE Government Shutdowns and Higher Education ACE

At the six-month mark of the Trump administration, the dotEDU Live hosts take stock of the landscape for colleges and universities. Kicking off with big-picture questions about how colleges can stay mission-focused and weather sustained political attacks, this season finale also explores the implications of the Columbia settlement, accreditation challenges, visa delays for international students, and the road ahead for implementing the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The show will return in September after a brief summer break.

https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/The One Big Beautiful Bill is now law, and colleges are facing a wave of new policies with real consequences for students and campuses. Mushtaq Gunja, Jon Fansmith, and Sarah Spreitzer break down what’s coming for student loans, Pell Grants, accountability rules, endowment taxes, and more. Plus, a quick look at what’s ahead for FY 2026 federal funding and accreditation. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: Reconciliation Reconciliation Bill Narrowly Passes Congress ACE | July 3, 2025 Summary: One Big Beautiful Bill Act ACE | July 10, 2025 Trump Signed the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ What’s Next? Inside Higher Ed | July 10, 2025 Contains a list of deadlines What the Republicans’ New Policy Bill Means for Higher Education The New York Times (sub. req.) | July 3, 2025 8 Million Federal Student Loan Borrowers Will Soon See Interest Restart The New York Times | July 9, 2025 Senate GOP Plots How to Move Trump’s $9.4B Clawbacks Request Politico | July 8, 2025 Carnegie Classifications College Scorecard Appropriations White House FY 2026 Budget Proposal Targets Education, Science, and Civil Rights Funding ACE | May 9, 2025 A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Education Senate Appropriations Committee | June 3, 2025 Accreditation Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education White House | April 23, 2025 Education Department Postpones NACIQI Summer Meeting Inside Higher Ed | July 8, 2025 6 States Partner to Launch New Accreditor Inside Higher Ed | June 26, 2025 U.S. Department of Education Expands Accreditation Options for Colleges and Universities Department of Education | May 1, 2025 Trump Administration Threatens Harvard’s Accreditation, Seeks Records on Foreign Students Reuters | July 9, 2025

Hosts Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja dig into the Senate’s reconciliation bill and what it means for colleges and students—student loan limits, endowment taxes, accountability rules, and more. They also discuss delays in student visa processing, stalled federal research funding, and a growing number of legal and policy challenges to programs serving undocumented and international students. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show. Reconciliation Advocate for Students and Campuses in the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill ACE Senate 2025 Education Budget Reconciliation Bill ACE | June 12, 2025 Senate Finance Reconciliation Tax Package: Summary of Key Higher Ed Provisions ACE | June 17, 2025 A Running List of Policies Rejected From the Republican Megabill The New York Times (sub. req.) | June 26, 2025 Risk-Sharing: A ‘Well-Intentioned’ Disaster for Colleges? Higher Ed Dive | May 6, 2025 Rescission White House Eyes Rarely Used Power to Override Congress on Spending The New York Times (sub. req.) | June 17, 2025 International Students State Dept. Restarts Student Visa Interviews With Tougher Social Media Rules The Washington Post (sub. req.) | June 18, 2025 Legal Developments Judge Orders NIH to Restore Research Funds Terminated Using Political, Not Scientific Criteria WBUR | June 17, 2025 Judge Blocks the Trump Administration’s National Science Foundation Research Funding Cuts The Associated Press | June 21, 2025 US Judge Blocks Defense Department From Slashing Federal Research Funding Reuters | June 17, 2025 Federal Judge Won’t Block Trump’s Cuts to IES Inside Higher Ed | June 18, 2025 U.S. Justice Department Sues Minnesota for Offering In-State Tuition Costs to Undocumented Students The Minnesota Star Tribune (sub. req.) | June 25, 2025 Tennessee Lawsuit Puts HSIs’ Fate on the Line Inside Higher Ed | June 13, 2025

In this episode of dotEDU Live, hosts Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja offer expert analysis on the implications of the student visa freeze, mounting political pressure on Harvard from the Trump administration, and the House reconciliation bill, which proposes major cuts to higher education funding and threatens financial aid and access for low-income students. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s episode: Reconciliation Bill H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act Congress.gov House Passes Reconciliation Bill with Far-Reaching Negative Implications for Higher Education ACE | May 23, 2025 Advocate for Students and Campuses in the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill International Student Developments Higher Ed Community Letter to Secretary Of State Marco Rubio May 30, 2025 As Trump Administration Escalates Visa Crackdowns, Higher Ed Community Pushes Back ACE | June 2, 2025 Trump Administration Strips Harvard’s SEVP Certification Inside Higher Ed | May 22, 2025 Trump Team Pauses New Student Visa Interviews as It Weighs Expanding Social Media Vetting Politico | May 27, 2025 State Begins Rolling Out Expanded Student Visa Vetting — Starting With Harvard Politico | May 30, 2025 Budget and Appropriations ED’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget Request Department of Education More Than 10,000 TRIO Alumni Urge Congress to Protect the Program (PDF) A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Education Senate Appropriations Committee | June 3, 2025 McMahon Gets Bipartisan Grilling in the Senate Inside Higher Ed | June 4, 2025 Budget Hearing - U.S. Department of Education House Appropriations Committee | May 21, 2025 McMahon Plays Defense on the Hill Inside Higher Ed | May 22, 2025

https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/Statement-on-Legal-Challenge-to-NSF-Indirect-Cost-Cap.aspxJon Fansmith, Mushtaq Gunja, and Sarah Spreitzer are joined by Steven Bloom, ACE assistant vice president for government relations, about the Trump administration’s escalating actions against higher education. Topics include a joint statement from more than 50 associations condemning political attacks on colleges and universities, deep funding and tax cuts proposed in the House reconciliation bill, legal efforts to block new restrictions on research funding, and recent developments on DEI, international students, and campus antisemitism. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show. You can contact Congress about the House reconciliation bill using this tool. Restoring the Compact with Higher Ed Community Joint Statement Calling on Trump Administration to Reforge Compact with Higher Education ACE | May 14, 2025 ACE, Others Call on Trump Administration to Reforge Compact with Higher Education ACE | May 14, 2025 Harvard Response to Education Secretary Linda McMahon McMahon letter Harvard’s response Harvard Argues It Has ‘Common Ground’ With Trump Administration The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 12, 2025 AJC, ACE Antisemitism Statement AJC, ACE, AAU, Others Unite Against Antisemitism, Caution on Federal Overreach Funding & Budget Landscape Tax Reform and Higher Education in 2025 Summary: Higher Ed Provisions in the Ways and Means Tax Reconciliation Tax Package Letter to the House on Proposed Medicaid Cuts Skinny Budget & Appropriations White House Office of Management and Budget Releases the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Skinny Budget White House FY 2026 Budget Proposal Targets Education, Science, and Civil Rights Funding ACE | May 9, 2025 What Trump’s Proposed Budget Cuts Mean for Education, Research Inside Higher Ed | May 2, 2025 National Science Foundation Lawsuit Higher Education Groups File Lawsuit Against NSF Cap on Research Reimbursements ACE | May 5, 2025 Statement of AAU, ACE, and APLU Regarding their Legal Challenge to the National Science Foundation’s Cut to Critical Research That Strengthens America

In this episode of dotEDU Live, Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja dive into recent executive orders on accreditation, foreign influence, and more. Also, they discuss key takeaways from the House reconciliation bill, new risks for federal student aid, and proposed changes to immigration policy affecting international students. Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation on X or Bluesky or email podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s episode: From ACE Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education Letter Opposing the House Budget Reconciliation Bill (the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan) ACE | April 29, 2025 Summary of the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan ACE | April 30, 2025 College Cost Reduction Act: By the Numbers News Articles Trump Administration Reverses Abrupt Terminations of Foreign Students’ US Visa Registrations Politico | April 25, 2025 Anti-DEI Guidance Letter Put On Hold, for Now Inside Higher Ed | April 24, 2025 Judge Frees Columbia Student Activist Whom Trump Administration Wants to Deport Politico | April 30, 2025 Trump Executive Orders Higher Education & The Trump Administration ACE Summary Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education (April 23, 2025) Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities (April 23, 2025) White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (April 23, 2025) Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy (April 23, 2025) Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future (April 23, 2025) Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens (April 28, 2025)

In this episode of dotEDU Live, the hosts unpack the Trump administration’s sweeping demands to Harvard—including oversight of teaching, governance, and student speech—and the university’s refusal to comply, a defining moment in higher education’s response to growing federal pressure. They also examine the surge in international student visa revocations and the escalating legal fight over federal research funding cuts at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy. ACE President Ted Mitchell and Steven Bloom from ACE’s Government Relations team join the conversation to explore what it all means for campuses—and how they can respond. Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation on X or Bluesky or email podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s episode: Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: The Promise of American Higher Education Harvard University President’s Office Trump’s Demands of Harvard Escalate His War on Higher Ed Inside Higher Ed | April 16, 2025 AJC Statement on University Funding Cuts American Jewish Committee College Financial Aid Hit with Glitches, Delays Due to Federal Staffing Cuts The Washington Post | April 14, 2025 ACE, Higher Ed Associations Demand Answers as Student Visa Revocations Spread Nationwide American Council on Education | April 7, 2025 ACE Page on NIH and DOE Lawsuits American Council on Education Tax Reform and Higher Education in 2025 American Council on Education NAFSA International Student Economic Value Tool

In this episode of dotEDU Live, Jon, Sarah, Mushtaq unpack the sweeping policy shifts affecting higher education, including the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). They also discuss the legal and financial implications for institutions, potential changes to federal student aid, immigration policies impacting international students, and key congressional budget updates. Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation on X or Bluesky or email podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s episode: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities The White House | March 20, 2025 (Executive Order) ACE President Ted Mitchell: Trump’s Order to Dismantle ED is “Political Theater” ACE | March 21, 2025 Federal Student Loan Site Down Wednesday, a Day After Layoffs Gutted Education Department The Associated Press | March 13, 2025 Public Health Agencies See Mass Layoffs Inside Higher Ed | April 2, 2025 Trump Administration Will Review Billions in Funding for Harvard The New York Times (sub. req.) | March 31, 2025 ACE, Higher Ed Association Urge Changes to Foreign Gift Reporting Bill Passed by House ACE | March 31, 2025 What We Know About the Detentions of Student Protesters The New York Times (sub. req.) | March 27, 2025

The latest episode of dotEDU Live unpacks the sweeping layoffs at the Department of Education and their implications for colleges and universities. Hosts Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja are joined by ACE President Ted Mitchell to break down the budget battle in Congress, the department’s restructuring, and the ripple effects on financial aid, student services, and institutional oversight. The discussion also covers the Trump administration’s ongoing investigations into higher education institutions, including Title VI enforcement actions and DEI-related scrutiny, as well as the shifting landscape for federal grant funding. Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation on X or Bluesky or email podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: Education Department Cuts Half Its Staff as Trump Vows to Wind the Agency Down The Associated Press | March 11, 2025 Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on Significant Layoffs at the Department of Education ACE | March 11, 2025 U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Sends Letters to 60 Universities Under Investigation for Antisemitic Discrimination and Harassment Department of Education | March 10, 2025 Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell Opposing the Trump Administration’s Cancellation of Grants and Contracts to Columbia University ACE | March 10, 2025 Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness White House | March 7, 2025 Office for Civil Rights Initiates Title VI Investigations into Institutions of Higher Education Department of Education | March 14, 2025 OPINION: Here’s Why We Cannot Permit America’s Partnership with Higher Education to Weaken or Dissolve By ACE President Ted Mitchell The Hechinger Report | March 18, 2025 Trump Demands Major Changes in Columbia Discipline and Admissions Rules The New York Times (sub. req.) | March 13, 2025 Susan Collins Announces Reinstatement of University of Maine System’s Paused USDA Funding Maine Public | March 12, 2025

In this episode of dotEDU, Sarah Spreitzer and Mushtaq Gunja give an update on the unprecedented workforce cuts at the Department of Education and share their concerns about the immediate and long-term implications for higher education. After that, a look back at the troubled rollout of the new FAFSA system. Jeremy Singer, president of the College Board, talks about his time at the Department of Education last year leading the FAFSA relaunch effort at Federal Student Aid. He shares firsthand insights into what went wrong, the challenges of managing a large-scale federal program, and the lessons learned from the rollout. Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation on X or Bluesky or email podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s episode: Education Department Lays Off Nearly Half of Staff Inside Higher Ed | March 11, 2025 Department of Education Investigating 60 Colleges and Universities Over Antisemitism Claims CNN | March 11, 2025 Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness The White House | March 7, 2025 White House Cancels $400 Million in Grants and Contracts to Columbia The New York Times (sub. req.) | March 7, 2025 Johns Hopkins Plans Staff Layoffs After $800 Million Grant Cuts The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | March 11, 2025 USDA Halts Millions in Funding for University of Maine System Portland Press Herald (sub. req.) | March 11, 2025 What Is the FAFSA Simplification Act? Federal Student Aid FAFSA Is Officially Out, and Everyone Is Cautiously Optimistic The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Nov. 21, 2024 Flawed FAFSA Rollout Leads to 11.6% Drop In Students Filling Out the College Financial Aid Form Chalkbeat Colorado | July 8, 2024 New Clearinghouse Data Shows Freshman Enrollment Has, in Fact, Increased Diverse: Issues In Higher Education | Jan. 23, 2025

As colleges and universities face mounting federal scrutiny, dotEDU Live hosts Jon Fansmith, Mushtaq Gunja, and Sarah Spreitzer break down the latest developments from the Department of Education, the White House, and Congress. They discuss the Education Department’s revised FAQ on DEI policies, newly confirmed Secretary Linda McMahon’s plans for the department, and the Trump administration’s increasing use of federal funding to pressure institutions. The conversation also covers ongoing research funding disruptions, the potential for a government shutdown, and heightened federal investigations into campus protests. Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation on X or Bluesky or email podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: Dear Colleague Letter SFFA v. Harvard U.S. Department of Education | Feb. 14, 2025 ACE, Higher Education Groups Urge Department of Education to Rescind DEI "Dear Colleague" Letter ACE | March 3, 2025 U.S. Department of Education Releases Frequently Asked Questions on Dear Colleague Letter About Racial Preferencing U.S. Department of Education | March 1, 2025 Secretary McMahon: Our Department's Final Mission U.S. Department of Education | March 3, 2025 Linda McMahon Confirmed as Education Secretary Inside Higher Ed | March 3, 2025 Education Dept. Workers Offered Buyouts Ahead of ‘Very Significant’ Layoffs The New York Times | Feb. 28, 2025 Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative The White House | Feb. 26, 2025 Trump Threatens to Pull Federal Funds for U.S. Schools Allowing ‘Illegal Protests” The Guardian | March 4, 2025 ED, HHS, and GSA Announce Additional Measures to End Anti-Semitic Harassment on College Campuses U.S. Department of Education | March 3, 2025

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has issued a sweeping directive declaring that race-conscious student programs, financial aid, and support services violate federal civil rights law—giving colleges just 14 days to comply. ACE President Ted Mitchell joins hosts Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja to discuss the implications for campuses. The episode also covers recent developments, including funding cuts at the National Institutes of Health and Linda McMahon’s Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Education. Note: For examples of grants that have been stopped, please send stories and concerns to ACE Government Relations. Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation on X or Bluesky or email podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: U.S. Department of Education Directs Schools to End Racial Preferences U.S. Department of Education | Feb. 18, 2025 Senate Questions McMahon on the Future of the Education Department, DEI, and Student Aid in Confirmation Hearing ACE | Feb. 14, 2025 Trump Taps Biden Critic Nicholas Kent as Under Secretary Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 11, 2025 Higher Education Association Lawsuit Challenges NIH Action on F&A Reimbursement ACE | Feb. 10, 2025 Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs Explainer Association of American Universities | YouTube After Sweeping Anti-DEI Guidance, What Should Colleges Do? Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 18, 2025 Post-SFFA v. Harvard & UNC Decision Resources: Admissions and Beyond ACE | Dec. 10, 2024 Higher Education Leaders Gather in Washington for ACEx2025 ACE | Feb. 14, 2025

In this all-Q&A episode of dotEDU Live, hosts Jon Fansmith, Mushtaq Gunja, and Sarah Spreitzer break down the latest policy shifts, legal battles, and administrative chaos facing colleges and universities in the Trump administration’s first weeks. From the fallout of the now-blocked federal spending freeze to the uncertain future of DEI funding and research grants, they answer audience questions on how agencies are interpreting new executive orders, the impact on funding, and whether the administration can really dismantle the Department of Education. Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: Higher Education & The Trump Transition American Council on Education Trump Planning EO Directing Education Department to ‘Diminish Itself,’ Reports Say Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 3, 2025 Republicans Praise Trump Plans To Dismantle Department of Education, but Others See a Contradiction The Boston Globe (sub. req.) | Feb. 5, 2025 Higher Ed Fights Back Against Trump’s DEI Order Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 5, 2025 Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism White House Executive Order |Jan. 29, 2025 U.S. Department of Education Probes Cases of Antisemitism at Five Universities Department of Education | Feb. 3, 2025 HHS’ Civil Rights Office Acts Swiftly to Combat Anti-Semitism Department of Health and Human Services | Feb. 3, 2025 Justice Department Announces Formation of Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism Department of Justice | Feb. 3, 2025 Trump Orders Disrupt Academic Research Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 3, 2025