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 [email protected]. Here are some of the links and references from this week’s episode: 

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 PlanACE | April 30, 2025

College Cost Reduction Act: By the Numbers

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

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 [email protected]. 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, and 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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, the hosts take 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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

NOTE: Both parts of this episode were recorded before the administration rescinded the order.

The Trump administration’s sweeping pause on all federal grants set off a wave of confusion and concern across higher education. But just minutes before it was set to take effect, a federal judge blocked the order, putting the freeze on hold until at least next Monday. In this episode recorded Jan. 28, Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja provide important context on the rapidly evolving situation. Jon and Sarah are later joined by ACE President Ted Mitchell for a deeper conversation on what we know, what’s at stake, and what could come next for colleges, universities, and students nationwide. 

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected].

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

M-25-13 Temporary Pause to Review Agency Grant Loan and Other Financial Assistance Programs  Office of Management and Budget | Jan. 27, 2025 

Instructions for Federal Financial Assistance Program Analysis in Support of M-25-13 Office of Management and Budget | Jan. 27, 2025 

Office of Management and Budget Guidance Document on M-25-13 Office of Management and Budget | Jan. 27, 2025 

Trump’s Executive Orders Shift Higher Education Landscape American Council on Education | Jan. 27, 2025 

Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on Federal Assistance Pause  American Council on Education | Jan. 28, 2025 

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

Trump Spending Freeze Upends Washington, Triggering Legal Threats and Delays  The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Jan. 28, 2025 

The Federal Funding Pause Does Not Apply to Student Loans and Pell Grants  The New York Times (sub. req.) | Jan. 28, 2025 

States, Nonprofit Groups Pursue Lawsuits to Stop Grant Freeze Roll Call | Jan. 28, 2025 

National Council of Nonprofits, American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance, and Sage v. Office of Management and Budget   

Does Trump Have the Power to Block Spending That Congress Has Authorized?  The New York Times (sub. req.) | Jan. 28, 2025 

White House Tries to Clarify Trump Federal Spending Freeze as Confusion Spreads The Washington Post (sub. req.)  | Jan. 28, 2025 

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration Freeze on Federal Grants and Loans Associated Press | Jan. 28, 2025 

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. With 28 executive orders already issued—many targeting DEI, immigration, and gender policies—the hosts analyze what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and what’s likely to face legal challenges. Key topics include new executive actions on immigration that could affect international  and undocumented students, the administration’s sweeping approach to DEI restrictions, and the implications for federal grant programs. They also discuss how colleges and universities can respond strategically in an uncertain policy environment and what ACE is doing to advocate for higher education.

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected].

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

President Trump’s Executive Orders Impacting Higher Education

Issue Brief: Immigration-Related Campus Concerns ACE | Jan. 16, 2025

Statement from a DHS Spokesperson on Directives Expanding Law Enforcement and Ending the Abuse of Humanitarian Parole Department of Homeland Security | Jan. 21, 2025

White House Orders Government DEI Employees to Be Placed on Leave CNN | Jan. 22, 2025

Trump Executive Order Says Federal Government Only Recognizes “Two Sexes” CBS News | Jan. 21, 2025

President Biden Drops Unfinished Protections for Trans Athletes ABC News | Dec. 21, 2024