Recent Federal Actions

• Department of Education: ED, HHS, and GSA Initiate Federal Contract and Grant Review of Harvard University
• White House: Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits
• White House Fact Sheet: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Declares National Emergency to Increase our Competitive Edge, Protect our Sovereignty, and Strengthen our National and Economic Security
• USCIS: USCIS Updates Policy to Recognize Two Biological Sexes
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education Announces Negotiated Rulemaking
• Department of Education: U.S Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice Announce Title IX Special Investigations Team

FAQs for Student Visa Holders

Check back early next week for new FAQs for student visa holders on the Federal Updates page. The FAQs will cover information relating to visa status and non-citizen rights and travel.

Recent Federal Actions

• Department of Education: ED, HHS, and GSA Respond to Columbia University’s Actions to Comply with Joint Task Force Pre-Conditions
• White House: Executive Order: Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections
• White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Protects the Integrity of American Elections

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: What You Should Know About DEI-Related Discrimination at Work
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: What To Do If You Experience Discrimination Related to DEI at Work
• Department of Justice: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Launches Compliance Review Investigation into Admissions Policies at Stanford University and Several University of California Schools, Advancing President Trump’s Mandate to End Illegal DEI Policies

New Financial Aid FAQs

Two new Financial Aid FAQs were added to the Federal Update website – both addressing the impact of executive orders on financial aid.

Advocacy Update

The Universities of Wisconsin continue to engage with Members of Congress – including the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation – and through our national associations on issues of importance and concern to our universities ranging from ongoing conversations related to budget reconciliation to potential cuts to research and federal student financial aid. Updates continue to be shared with designated university legislative liaisons, who are engaged in similar efforts both state and federally as appropriate.

Recent Federal Actions

• White House: Additional Recissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions
• White House Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy
• White House: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities
• White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Empowers Parents, States, and Communities to Improve Education Outcomes 
• Department of Education: Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron Letter to Education Stakeholders Regarding Reduction in Force
• Department of Education: Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order to Return Power Over Education to States and Local Communities

Department of Education Executive Order 

The Universities of Wisconsin are aware of the executive order signed on March 20 related to the continuation of the Department of Education. It is our hope that these actions will not impact current funding provided by the Department of Education, including federal student financial aid. The Universities of Wisconsin are working to learn more about the impacts of this action, and as more guidance is provided by relevant authorities, further updates will be shared.

NEW! Resources for International Students, Faculty, and Staff

The Universities of Wisconsin are providing resources for international students, faculty, and staff on the International Students, Faculty, and Staff Resources page. The resources on the site are related to recent federal actions. Visit the Federal Updates website for more information on the federal issues the Universities of Wisconsin and your university are following.

Recent Federal Actions

• White House: Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Launches Initiative to Address Backlog of Biden Administration-Era Complaints Alleging Antisemitism
• Department of Education: 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: U.S. Department of Education Initiates Reduction in Force
• Department of Education: Office for Civil Rights Initiates Title VI Investigations into Institutions of Higher Education
• Governor Evers: Gov. Evers’ Statement Regarding New Lawsuit to Stop Trump Administration from Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education

Department of Education Reduction in Force

The Universities of Wisconsin are aware of the layoff actions announced March 11 by the Department of Education. It is our hope that these actions will not impact current funding provided by the Department of Education, including federal student financial aid. The Universities of Wisconsin are working to learn more about the impacts of this action, and as more guidance is provided by relevant authorities, further updates will be shared.

Advocacy Update

The Universities of Wisconsin continue to engage with Members of Congress – including the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation – and through our national associations on issues of importance and concern to our universities ranging from ongoing conversations related to government funding to potential cuts to research and federal student financial aid. Updates continue to be shared with designated university legislative liaisons, who are engaged in similar efforts both state and federally as appropriate.

Political Activity Guidance Reminder

As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the emerging federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.

Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.

In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.

For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.

Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.

NEW! FAQs

The Working Group added the first wave of FAQs on the Federal Updates websites (public facing and internal team). The Working Group is reviewing additional FAQs and will post new information (with an updated date) as they are approved.

Recent Federal Actions

• Department of Education: Secretary McMahon: Our Department’s Final Mission
• Department of Education: ED, HHS, and GSA Announce Additional Measures to End Anti-Semitic Harassment on College Campuses

U.S. Department of Education Releases Frequently Asked Questions on Dear Colleague Letter 

On March 1, the Department of Education released a Frequently Asked Questions Document, which is meant to be considered with the February 14 Dear Colleague Letter. The Universities of Wisconsin continue to review the Frequently Asked Questions Document.

Secretary McMahon Confirmation

On March 3, via a vote of 51-45, the U.S. Senate confirmed Linda McMahon to be the next Secretary of Education. At the time of her confirmation, Secretary McMahon released this statement.

NIH Indirect Cost Rates

Leaders and faculty at the Universities of Wisconsin, UW–Madison, and UW-Milwaukee discussed the impact of federal health research funding on Wisconsin at a news conference in the wake of a federal proposal to limit National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Read the news release.

At the news conference, President Rothman cited the important research at UW–Madison, UW-Milwaukee and across the Universities of Wisconsin and said cutting federal funding “has real implications for families and communities counting on us to find solutions to our most pressing needs.” Chancellor Mnookin emphasized that indiscriminate reductions in research funding “pose significant risk to our state and nation’s future” and harm the ability for universities like UW–Madison to make critical, life-saving discoveries and train students to be leaders. “Let us work together to protect and preserve the vital research work around us that is poised to make critical new discoveries and save lives in Wisconsin and all across the nation,” she said.

You may view a video of the news conference and read the Letter to Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation from businesses and organizations supporting NIH funding.

In the background of this, on March 5, a federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that halts the implementation of a 15% indirect cost rate on NIH grants and contracts.

Federal Updates Public Web Page Refreshed

The Universities of Wisconsin (UW) refreshed its Federal Updates web page for the public to learn about the federal issues the UW is monitoring. The site provides a dashboard view of the various issues organized by topic, with a summary and links related to the topic. Please share this across your campus.

UW Communication

• UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mone Op-Ed: UWM has weathered cuts, delivered research to improve health and commerce
• UW-Madison Release: Mnookin, Isbell: Amid uncertainty, a commitment to our mission

Recent Federal Actions

• White House: Addressing the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper
• White House: Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Initiative
• Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Employees Return to Work
• UCIS: Alien Registration Requirement

House and Senate Budget and Appropriations Updates

On February 25, the House of Representatives adopted H.Con.Res. 14, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034, via a vote of 217-215.

Earlier this month, the Senate agreed to their chamber’s FY25 Budget Resolution via a vote of 52-48. You can read more on the Senate Budget Blueprint.

Given the differences between these budget resolutions, the House and Senate will need to adopt identical budget resolutions before moving forward with budget reconciliation efforts.

Finally, in the background of this action, the House and Senate continue to work to advance legislation to fund the government beyond the expiration of the current Continuing Resolution on March 14, 2025.