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This NAFSA page links to select executive actions by the President and administrative actions by federal agencies that relate to international education, during the Trump-Vance administration (January 20, 2025 - January 20, 2029). See NAFSA's page Background on Presidential Executive Actions for basic information on this kind of authority source. Check NAFSA's Agency Web Links page for links to agency web pages and resources. Review NAFSA's Practical Immigration Concepts in a Time of Change page for a list of "evergreen" NAFSA resources to better understand the U.S. immigration system. Also see Guttentag, Immigration Policy Tracking Project, which "compiles and indexes all identifiable Trump 1.0 and 2.0 immigration policies with key source documents and the current status of each policy."

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Select Presidential Actions

Also see: Presidential Actions page from the Trump-Vance whitehouse.gov site for a list of all executive actions.

General

Government Funding, Staffing, and Operations

  • Executive Order 14211 of February 12, 2025: One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 9831 (February 18, 2025). Declares that "Failure to faithfully implement the President’s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation" of foreign service officers and calls for "Foreign Service Reform" to also include revising or replacing the Department of State's Foreign Affairs Manual. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order of February 11, 2025; Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative. EO on whitehouse.gov. On February 11, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Workforce Optimization Initiative. This order aims to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce and implement new hiring practices. See NAFSA's page.
  • Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Advancing United States Interests When Funding Nongovernmental Organizations. February 6, 2025. Memorandum on whitehouse.gov. President Trump announces "the policy of my Administration to stop funding NGOs that undermine the national interest." The two-paragraph memo directs the heads of agencies "to review all funding that agencies provide to NGOs" and to "align future funding decisions with the interests of the United States and with the goals and priorities of my Administration, as expressed in executive actions; as otherwise determined in the judgment of the heads of agencies; and on the basis of applicable authorizing statutes, regulations, and terms."
  • Executive Order 14169 of January 20, 2025, Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8619 (January 30, 2025). EO 14169 mandates a 90-day pause on new foreign development assistance obligations and disbursements of funds to "to foreign countries and implementing non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and contractors." It also covers USAID. This pause and potential funding realignment could impact international education programs, research collaborations, and grants that rely on U.S. foreign aid. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14150 of January 20, 2025: America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8337 (January 29, 2025). Directs the Secretary of State to, "as soon as practicable... issue guidance bringing the Department of State's policies, programs, personnel, and operations in line with an America First foreign policy, which puts America and its interests first."
  • Also see the following agency actions on this page:

DEI and Gender

See NAFSA's page Executive Actions Under the Trump-Vance Administration Touching on DEI and Gender for further information on these and other DEI and gender-related executive actions.

  • Executive Order 14201 of February 5, 2025, Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 9279 (Feburary 11, 2025). This order establishes a federal enforcement framework for making eligibility to participate in women’s sports exclusively based on sex at birth, and purports to align Title IX policies with the order. Institutions receiving federal funding must comply with the order's directives to maintain eligibility for federal support. The order also tells DHS and DOS to review and modify policies regarding the admission of males at birth seeking to compete in women’s sports, including potential visa restrictions.
  • Executive Order 14151 of January 20, 2025: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8339 (January 29, 2025). Directs the termination of all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, policies, and mandates. It requires that federal agencies eliminate DEI-related offices, positions, and initiatives, including environmental justice programs, and prohibits consideration of DEI factors in federal employment practices. Higher education administrators should be aware that this order may impact federal funding, grant eligibility, and hiring policies related to DEI initiatives in federally supported programs.
  • Executive Order 14168 of January 20, 2025: Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8615 (January 30, 2025). Has provisions impacting language and categories on government forms, records, and documents. "The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall implement changes to require that government-issued identification documents, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, accurately reflect the holder’s sex, as defined under section 2 of this order; and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall ensure that applicable personnel records accurately report Federal employees’ sex, as defined by section 2 of this order."

Immigration-Specific Executive Actions

  • President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on January 29, 2025. The law requires DHS to detain certain non-U.S. nationals who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting, and authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14165 of January 20, 2025: Securing Our Borders. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8647 (January 30, 2025). Directs a comprehensive effort to secure the U.S. southern border by increasing physical barriers, deploying additional personnel, and expanding detention and removal operations. It reinstates the Migrant Protection Protocols, restricts the use of categorical parole, and prioritizes the prosecution of immigration-related offenses. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14160 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8449 (January 29, 2025). Sometimes referred to as the "birthright citizenship" order. This executive order tells federal agencies to not recognize birthright citizenship of any individual born after 30 days from when the executive order was signed: "(1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or (2) when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth." Currently enjoined by nationwide preliminary injunctions. See NAFSA's page.
  • Executive Order 14159 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The American People Against Invasion. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8443 (January 29, 2025). Among other things, directs the DHS Secretary to "ensure that the primary mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations division is the enforcement of the provisions of the INA and other Federal laws related to the illegal entry and unlawful presence of aliens in the United States and the enforcement of the purposes of this order." Note that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is housed within HSI.
  • Executive Order 14161 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8451 (January 30, 2025). Sometimes referred to as the "extreme vetting" order. Directs federal agencies to enhance immigration screening and vetting procedures to prevent the entry of individuals who may pose a terrorist, national security, or public safety threat to the United States. The order restores prior vetting standards from the Trump administration and requires a comprehensive review of visa and immigration policies to ensure stringent security measures. Key provisions include identifying high-risk countries for potential entry restrictions, strengthening refugee screening, and evaluating visa programs for potential security vulnerabilities. Additionally, the order mandates stricter oversight of foreign nationals already in the U.S. and calls for measures to promote immigrant assimilation into American society. See NAFSA's page on this executive order.
  • Presidential Proclamation 10888 of January 20, 2025: Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion. Proclamation on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8333 (January 29, 2025). Declares that an ongoing "invasion" is occurring at the U.S. southern border and invokes executive authority under the Constitution and immigration law to suspend the entry of migrants crossing the border illegally. The proclamation directs the Department of Homeland Security to implement broad restrictions on entry, including denying asylum claims and removing individuals without processing under standard immigration procedures.
  • Executive Order 14157 of January 20, 2025: Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8439 (January 29, 2025).
  • Executive Order 14167 of January 20, 2025: Clarifying The Military’s Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States. EO on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8613 (January 30, 2025).
  • Presidential Proclamation 10886 of January 20, 2025: Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States. Proclamation on whitehouse.gov | Federal Register cite: 90 FR 8327 (January 29, 2025).
  • Immigration-related comments in President Trump's January 20, 2025 inaugural address. Extracted by NAFSA from the transcript on whitehouse.gov.

Select Agency Actions

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

  • DHS. Mass Influx of Aliens Finding. On January 23, 2025, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman signed a "Finding of Mass Influx of Aliens," two days before Kristi Noem was sworn in as DHS Secretary. The finding activates enhanced federal authority and resources and presses for state and local cooperation. See NAFSA's page for links and a transcription of the finding.
  • USCIS. USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status Applicants. Effective January 22, 2025, USCIS will waive any requirements that applicants for adjustment of status to permanent residence present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.
  • DHS. DHS Rescinds Biden "Protected Areas" Enforcement Policy. January 21, 2025. On January 20, 2025 DHS rescinded a 2021 guidance memo that had required DHS officers and agents to seek headquarters approval before taking an enforcement action in sensitive areas like schools and colleges, hospitals or churches. See NAFSA's page.
  • CBP. CBP narrows functionality of its CBP One app. January 20, 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on its CBP One page that: "Effective January 20, 2025, the functionalities of CBP One™ that previously allowed undocumented aliens to submit advance information and schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry is no longer available, and existing appointments have been cancelled." This will particularly impact asylum seekers who were permitted to use the tool to schedule appointments under the Biden administration.

Department of State (DOS)

  • DOS. Visa Issuance in Colombia Resumes. January 31, 2025. NAFSA's liaison partners at DOS have informed NAFSA that nonimmigrant visa issuance in Colombia has now resumed. Press reports confirm. On January 26, 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suspended visa issuance at the U.S. Embassy Bogota consular section, following Colombian President Petro's refusal to accept two repatriation flights unless the deported individuals were treated with the “dignity that a human being deserves." See NAFSA's page.
  • DOS. Implementing Executive Order 14169 of January 20, 2025, Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid. January 26, 2025. DOS Secretary Rubio has paused U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and AID. "Consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, Secretary Rubio has paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for review. He is initiating a review of all foreign assistance programs to ensure they are efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda." See the DOS Press Release.
  • DOS. Halt to Processing New and Renewal Passports Requesting X Gender Marker. Secretary Rubio has issued an internal communication to passport office staff to halt processing of passport applications requesting a gender marker of "X."  On February 11, 2025, the Department of State posted a Passport Help item called Sex Marker in Passports, which confirms that "Under the executive order, we will no longer issue U.S. passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs) with an X marker. We will only issue passports with an M or F sex marker that match the customer's biological sex at birth." It also confirms that "All passports - including those with an X marker or those listing a sex different from your sex at birth - will remain valid for travel until their expiration date, under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) policy." On February 5, 2025 DOS updated the Foreign Affairs Manual at 9 FAM 403.2-5(B)(1)(f) to read: "f. Passports that do not list male or female: The sex reflected on any issued visa must match the visa holder's sex as defined by the January 20, 2025 E.O. on Protecting Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. In those instances where a passport does not list a “male” or “female” field, the applicant must select his or her sex at birth on the visa application." This will impact the content of NAFSA's X Gender Marker Passport Advising Resource.
  • DOS. FAM Updates Implementing EO 14168. On February 5, 2025 DOS updated the Foreign Affairs Manual at 9 FAM 403.2-5(B)(1)(f) to read: "f. Passports that do not list male or female: The sex reflected on any issued visa must match the visa holder's sex as defined by the January 20, 2025 E.O. on Protecting Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. In those instances where a passport does not list a “male” or “female” field, the applicant must select his or her sex at birth on the visa application."

Department of Justice (DOJ)

  • DOJ. In a February 3, 2025 press release, the Department of Justice announced the formation of "a multi-agency Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism," pursuant to Executive Order 14188 of January 29, 2025, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism. According to the press release, the "Task Force's first priority will be to root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses... In addition to the Department of Justice, the Task Force will include representatives from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies as it develops. The Task Force will be coordinated through the Department's Civil Rights Division."

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

  • OMB. General Funding Freeze Rescinded. A January 27, 2025 memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) required "Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements," and to suspend distribution of this funding while the review is underway. The funding pause was set to go into effect on January 28, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, but was temporarily blocked by litigation. On January 29 The New York Times reported that "On Wednesday, Matthew J. Vaeth, the acting director for the Office of Management and Budget, sent a notification to federal agencies notifying them that memo freezing aid had been 'rescinded.'" See NAFSA's page.

Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • NIH. 15% Cap on Indirect Costs in Grants. In Notice Number NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates (February 7, 2025)], the National Institutes of Health (NIH) imposed a 15% cap on the "indirect cost" rate for all NIH grants. This policy applies to both new and existing grants, effective from the date of issuance. For institutions of higher education, this standardized 15% indirect cost rate may lead to reduced funding for facilities and administrative expenses, potentially impacting operations that support research and other activities. On February 10, 2025 the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts temporarily blocked implementation of the 15% cap. The court set a hearing for February 21, 2025. In the meantime, NIH is blocked from implementing the 15% cap nationwide. See NAFSA's page.

Department of Education (DoEd)

  • Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter Directs Schools to End Racial Preferences. On February 14, 2025, the Department of Education (DoEd) issued a "Dear Colleague Letter" that "provides notice of the Department's existing interprettion of federal law" on the prohibition on " using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life." The letter, signed by DoEd's Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Craig Trainor, warns that educational institutions "that fail to comply with federal civil rights law may, consistent with applicable law, face potential loss of federal funding." See NAFSA's page.

Background information

Executive actions, also called presidential actions, are taken by the President of the United States, usually through the following vehicles:

  • Executive Orders
  • Presidential Proclamations
  • Presidential Memoranda
  • Signing legislation into law after it is passed by Congress

Agency regulatory actions include:

  • Proposed regulations
  • Final regulations
  • Agency policy documents and statements

Federal agencies are part of the Executive Branch of government and exercise authority delegated by Congress to the head of the agency.  Four Cabinet-level executive agencies share most responsibility for administering immigration laws (Departments of Homeland Security, State, Justice, and Labor). The Department of Education also has an impact on international education, particularly regarding funding for education abroad for U.S. students and Title IX protections.

Related Content

Current U.S. Administration Practical Immigration Concepts in a Time of Change Priorities for the Trump-Vance Administration Resources on Initiatives Under the Trump-Vance Administration