Federal Actions Updates

The federal administration has signed an executive order to address anti-Semitism.

The order Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism charges “the head of each executive department or agency” to submit a report that would identify “all civil and criminal authorities or actions” in order to “curb or combat anti-Semitism, and containing an inventory and analysis of all pending administrative complaints, as of the date of the report, against or involving institutions of higher education alleging civil-rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism.”

The White House, thereafter, issued this fact sheet.

At UD:

The University of Delaware fosters a sense of inclusivity and belonging through a campus atmosphere that promotes the free exchange of ideas and perspectives. Members of the UD community with questions can refer them to vpe-cdo@udel.edu.  

Read more:

• Executive Order: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism (Jan. 29, 2025)

• Fact sheet: President Trump Takes Forceful and Unprecedented Steps to Combat Anti-Semitism (Jan. 30, 2025) 

The federal administration has signed an executive order to initiate the process of closing the U.S. Department of Education.

The order Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities calls for “closing the Department of Education and returning authority to the states” and ensuring “that the allocation of any Federal Department of Education funds is subject to rigorous compliance with Federal law and Administration policy.”

Said U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon: “Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them—we will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs. We’re going to follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working through Congress to ensure a lawful and orderly transition.”

At UD:

The University of Delaware will closely monitor any and all changes to the U.S. Department of Education, as we assess if and how these changes may impact UD and/or higher education at large.

Read more:

• Executive Order: Improving education outcomes by empowering parents, states, and communities (March 20, 2025)
• Statement: Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) President Mark Becker Statement on Executive Order to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (March 20, 2025)
• Press release: Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order to Return Power Over Education to States and Local Communities | U.S. Department of Education (March 20, 2025)

The federal administration has signed executive orders that seek to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) programs. 

The order Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity seeks to terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, what are described as “illegal DEI and DEIA policies” by directing the U.S. Attorney General to offer “recommendations for enforcing Federal civil-rights laws and taking other appropriate measures to encourage the private sector to end illegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI.”

Of particular significance for educational institutions, this executive order directs the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General to “jointly issue guidance to all State and local educational agencies that receive Federal funds, as well as all institutions of higher education that receive Federal grants or participate in the Federal student loan assistance program.”

The order Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing terminates all “equity-related” grants and contracts from federal agencies, including DEI and/or DEIA in “Federal employment practices, contracts, and training policies or programs.”

On Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter warning federally funded institutions against race-conscious practices in admissions, financial aid, hiring, and campus life. The letter, signed by DOE Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor, cites the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which overturned affirmative action in college admissions. The DOE’s directive mandates compliance with this ruling across a broader range of institutional practices, with the threat of potential federal funding loss for non-compliant institutions.

On Feb. 21, the federal district court for the District of Maryland issued an order temporarily blocking three provisions of two January 2025 executive orders discussed above – Executive Order 14151, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” and Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.”  The presidential administration is ordered not to: 1) pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, terminate or change the terms of any current awards, contracts or obligations; 2) require any grantee or contractor to make any “certification” or other representation regarding whether they promote DEI; or 3) bring any False Claims Act enforcement action, or other enforcement action under the anti-DEI executive orders. The presidential administration has appealed this order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and filed a motion to stay the nationwide injunction during the appeal’s pendency. It is unclear if and how this injunction will impact the enforcement of the “Dear Colleague Letter” issued Feb. 14 by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.

At UD:

The University of Delaware is monitoring and assessing implications of all federal initiatives underway as information becomes available. 

Related specifically to the DOE’s “Dear Colleague” letter: Senior leadership at the University of Delaware is carefully reviewing the letter to determine whether any further actions are required by the University. A full understanding of its impact will take time. Senior leadership will maintain close communication with deans and other University leaders as more is learned about the letter and potential impacts, and as more information becomes available.

Members of the UD community with questions can refer them to vpe-cdo@udel.edu.   

Read more:

• FAQ: Department of Education Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (Feb. 28)
• Letter: Department of Education Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to educational institutions (Feb. 14)
• Executive Order: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports (Feb. 5, 2025) 
  • NCAA Announcement: Participation Policy for Transgender Student-Athletes (Feb. 6, 2025 update)
• Executive Order: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing (Jan. 20, 2025)
  
• Executive Order: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (Jan. 21, 2025)
  
• Executive Order: Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (Jan. 20, 2025)

The federal administration has signed several executive orders that could impact the University’s international students, scholars and employees. 

The order Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats could impact visa processing times for those with F-1 and J-1 visas. 

The order Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship — which is being challenged in court and is currently enjoined — would end birthright citizenship regardless of parents’ status in the U.S. 

The order America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State directs the Department of State to bring its “policies, programs, personnel, and operations in line with an America First foreign policy, which puts America and its interests first.”

At UD:

The University of Delaware is committed to fostering a welcoming environment that values a community of individuals from different backgrounds, perspectives and learning experiences This is an essential step in educating global citizens, advancing knowledge and making a positive impact on our world. UD will continue to monitor and assess the implications of federal initiatives as information becomes available. Members of the UD community with questions can refer them to the University’s Center for Global Programs and Services. (Email: cgps@udel.edu.)

Read more:

• Executive Order: America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State (Jan. 20, 2025)
• Executive Order: Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship (Jan. 20, 2025)
• Executive Order: Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (Jan. 20, 2025)

The federal administration has begun implementing policy priorities that could require changes and/or updates from federal agencies and research sponsors pertaining to specific research projects. This will likely impact research compliance requirements for awards, the terms and conditions of awards, proposals and sponsor review timelines, among other areas.

At UD:

The University of Delaware encourages members of UD’s research community to monitor policy updates from federal agencies overseeing applicable grants for any new information on research funding and/or compliance requirements. The UD Research Office is monitoring the latest information on federal initiatives and providing relevant updates through its website. Members of the UD community with questions specific to research implications can refer them to the University’s Research Office. (Email: udresearch@udel.edu.)

In February, the attorney general for the State of Delaware joined attorneys general from nearly two-dozen states in taking legal recourse to stop the U.S. presidential administration from limiting National Institutes of Health funding for health and science research. Upon request from Delaware’s attorney general, the University of Delaware provided a declaration to support that lawsuit. The declaration provided contextual evidence that demonstrates the impact that such federal funding cuts would inflict upon ongoing and future research initiatives, as well as facilities, staff, research compliance, and more. As of Feb. 10, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s funding action as to plaintiff states, including Delaware. On March 5, a federal judge issued an injunction that will keep indirect costs related to NIH grants flowing at their current rate nationwide amid ongoing litigation.

Read more: 

• Navigating the Federal Transition | University of Delaware Research Office
• Federal Funding Updates | University of Delaware Research Office message (March 21, 2025)
• Federal Funding Updates | University of Delaware Research Office message (March 14, 2025)
• Federal Funding Updates | University of Delaware Research Office message (March 7, 2025)
• Federal Funding Updates | University of Delaware Research Office message (Feb. 28, 2025)
• Federal Funding Updates | University of Delaware Research Office message (Feb. 21, 2025)
• Federal Funding Updates | University of Delaware Research Office message (Feb. 14, 2025)
• Federal Funding: NIH Guidance | University of Delaware Research Office message (Feb. 10, 2025)
• Federal Funding Updates | University of Delaware Research Office message (Feb. 7, 2025)
• Federal Transition Webpage for UD Researchers | University of Delaware Research Office message (Jan. 31, 2025)

• Federal funding pause rescinded | University of Delaware Research Office message (Jan. 29, 2025)

• Navigating the Evolving Research Landscape | University of Delaware Research Office message (Jan. 28, 2025)
• Initial Impacts of Recent Executive Orders on University Research | University of Delaware Research Office message (Jan. 23, 2025)

• FAQ: Federal financial assistance freeze | Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President of the United States (January 2025)

The federal administration has taken action to detain, arrest and/or deport undocumented individuals (foreign-born persons who are living in the United States without legal authorization). 

The executive order Protecting the American People Against Invasion allows for the United States to “execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people. Further, it is the policy of the United States to achieve the total and efficient enforcement of those laws, including through lawful incentives and detention capabilities.” 

The Department of Homeland Security said it will enforce immigration laws and arrest undocumented individuals in schools, churches and other places that had been traditionally viewed as “sensitive locations,” the department announced in a Jan. 21 statement Directives Expanding Law Enforcement and Ending the Abuse of Humanitarian Parole.

At UD:

The University of Delaware is monitoring and assessing the implications of these federal initiatives and actions as information becomes available. Members of the UD community with questions can refer them to the Student Support & Advocacy team within the Division of Student Life. (Email: studentsupport@udel.edu.)

Read more: 

• Statement: Directives Expanding Law Enforcement and Ending the Abuse of Humanitarian Parole | Department of Homeland Security (Jan. 21, 2025)

• Executive Order: Protecting the American People Against Invasion (Jan. 20, 2025)