Current U.S. Administration

This NAFSA page links to executive actions by the President and administrative actions by federal agencies that relate to international education, during the Trump-Vance administration. Now updated with:

• Numerous immigration-related executive orders, executive orders calling for the end of government and government-funded DEI programs, and executive orders affecting gender-based distinctions.
• January 20, 2025. DHS rescinded a 2021 guidance memo that had limited enforcement actions in protected areas like schools and colleges, hospitals or churches. See NAFSA's page.
• DOS halts processing of passport applications that request a gender marker of "X" pursuant to an executive order issued on January 20, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
• January 31, 2025. NAFSA's liaison partners at DOS have informed NAFSA that nonimmigrant visa issuance in Colombia has now resumed. Press reports confirm. See NAFSA's page.
• A January 27, 2025 memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that suspend distribution of funding pending a review was temporarily blocked by litigation and then rescinded by OMB. See NAFSA's page.
• On January 23, 2025, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman signed a "Finding of Mass Influx of Aliens."
• President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on January 29, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
• A January 29, 2025 executive order on "Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism" on campuses. See NAFSA's page.
• An executive order attempting to alter birthright citizenship is halted by nationwide preliminary injunctions. See NAFSA's page.
• On February 7, 2025 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) imposed a 15% cap on the "indirect cost" rate for all NIH grants. 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.
• Executive Order of February 12, 2025: One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations 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.
• DOS Revises Visa Interview Waiver Policy. A February 18, 2025 Interview Waiver Update rescinds prior DOS expansions of interview waiver authority, for example, reinstating the statutory 12-month post-expiration period for applicants who previously held a visa in the same category. This marks a shift from the previous policy, which allowed interview waivers for applicants whose prior visa had expired within the past 48 months. See NAFSA's page.
• EEOC Asserts Commitment to Protecting American Workers. On February 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) asserted the agency’s commitment to protecting American workers from national origin discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and warned employers, staffing agencies, and other entities against engaging in illegal hiring preferences that disadvantage American workers, stating that those contributing to the immigration crisis or abusing legal immigration programs must comply with the law. See NAFSA's page.

On February 3rd, NAFSA joined the American Council on Education and 29 other higher education associations in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, congratulating him on his recent confirmation and addressing key priorities for higher education. The letter emphasized concerns about visa processing delays and denials that could discourage international students from choosing U.S. institutions, and   reiterated U.S. higher education’s commitment to collaborating on national security concerns while protecting beneficial global academic exchange.

NAFSA remains committed to its long-standing priorities of ensuring the global competency of U.S. college graduates through expanding access to study abroad and attracting and retaining the best and brightest international talent.

On January 22 NAFSA CEO Dr. Fanta Aw and policy experts examined the path forward for international education. In this month's #IE30 discussion we were joined by NAFSA board member Ahmad Ezzeddine and Jill Allen Murray and Rachel Banks of NAFSA's Public Policy team to explore priorities, resources, and collaborative opportunities for strengthening the field in this political environment.

NAFSA staff members David Fosnocht and Steve Springer had a discussion on February 13 on student and scholar advising and the new presidential administration. They discussed vehicles an administration can use to effect change, reviewed interests of the prior Trump administration that may be revived, and described steps you may take to avoid problems. They also noted sources you may use to keep up with developments and explained how you can get involved in NAFSA’s advocacy efforts.

In a November 14, 2024 panel on LinkedIn, "IE30: Postelection Town Hall," panelists Fanta Aw, LaNitra Berger, Stuart Anderson, and Jill Allen Murray discussed discuss the outcome of the U.S. elections and the potential impact on the international education community.

Statement by Dr. Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, on November 6, 2024. “For more than 75 years, NAFSA has advocated for policies that expand the reach and impact of international education. We remain committed to educating the incoming administration and Congress on the regulatory changes and policies that will strengthen the field and extend opportunities for global learning."

A chronological compilation of U.S. government policy and regulatory developments and related advocacy activities.

Helpful resources from NAFSA and others on initiatives under the Second Trump Administration