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