Public Policy Alerts

On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), imposing significant digital accessibility requirements on public entities, including public colleges and universities.

On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), imposing significant digital accessibility requirements on public entities, including public colleges and universities.

On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), imposing significant digital accessibility requirements on public entities, including public colleges and universities.

After months of negotiation, Congress has passed a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that includes significant higher education provisions. This legislation carries broad implications for higher education and will impact federal student aid, program eligibility, regulatory oversight, and institutional operations.

After months of negotiation, Congress has passed a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that includes significant higher education provisions. This legislation carries broad implications for higher education and will impact federal student aid, program eligibility, regulatory oversight, and institutional operations.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) has released draft text of its portion of the Senate budget reconciliation bill. This marks a critical milestone in the budget reconciliation process as Senate leaders aim to finalize the full budget package before the July 4 recess.

With fewer than three weeks remaining before the July 4 legislative recess, Congress is accelerating its work on the budget reconciliation bill, which recently passed the House and is now being debated in the Senate. This comprehensive legislation carries significant consequences for higher education.

The House Education and Workforce Committee recently reported out a budget reconciliation package that would substantially reshape federal student aid, institutional accountability, and regulatory frameworks in higher education. Built largely on the previously introduced College Cost Reduction Act (H.R. 6951, 118th Congress), this legislation is aligned with broader efforts to reduce federal spending and diminish the U.S. Department of Education’s role.

A newly issued Executive Order requiring greater transparency of foreign funding in U.S. higher education underscores intensifying federal scrutiny on the influence of international sources on academic institutions. The order signals a renewed and more active enforcement of Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 that has a higher priority than that of the last administration.

The new Executive Order issued by the president on April 23, 2025, introduces sweeping changes to the higher education accreditation system in the United States. The order seeks to redefine federal oversight by emphasizing accountability, institutional outcomes, and a rejection of what the administration views as unlawful discriminatory practices embedded in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards and requirements.

The recent Executive Order proposing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education raises significant concerns for higher education governance. While an outright closure of the agency remains unlikely due to the need for congressional approval, significant budget and personnel reductions will undermine its effectiveness and raise operational challenges that will impact institutions and the students that they serve.