Latest Updates
- DOS Plans Comprehensive Reorganization. In an April 22, 2025 press statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced "a comprehensive reorganization plan" for the Department of State (DOS) that Rubio says will be implemented "methodically over the next several months." See NAFSA's page.
- SEVIS Record Termination Litigation. Numerous lawsuits against recent SEVIS record terminations are being filed across the United States. See a sample of cases already filed for an idea of the scope and issues being litigated. April 20, 2025. See NAFSA's page.
- DOE Plans for 15% Indirect Cost Limits Placed on Hold by Court. On April 11, 2025 the Department of Energy (DOE) said that it sent a policy memorandum to grant recipients at colleges and universities announcing that it will limit financial support of “indirect costs” of DOE research funding to 15%. See the DOE press release. On April 16, 2025, in a case filed by the AAU, a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts issued a Temporary Restraining Order blocking the policy while litigation continues. See the case docket on CourtListener.
- House Committee Sends Letters to Several Universities Requesting Detailed Information on Chinese Students. A House committee sent letters to six U.S. University presidents asking for written responses to numerous questions regarding demographics, funding sources, research activities, security protocols, and post-graduation trajectories of Chinese national students, particularly in STEM fields, with an emphasis on affiliations with Chinese entities, federally funded research, and potential national security concerns. See NAFSA's page.
Key Executive and Regulatory Actions
Government Funding, Staffing, and Operations
Funding that had been largely frozen since mid-February has since flowed to State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs programs as a new payment process within the department seems to be coalescing and a cadence of payments is developing. However, organizations need confidence that this payment process will continue to work and that they can count on future funding.
Antisemitism Related
An April 9 DHS news release says that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services "will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. This guidance is effective immediately."
Vetting and Enforcement
As of April 17, there have been approximately 1,400 reports of international students and scholars either having their visa revoked and/or their record in SEVIS terminated, thereby jeopardizing their legal status in the United States.
NAFSA Statements and Commentary
NAFSA Responds to ECA Funding Freeze
“The freeze on State Department grant programs threatens the survival of study abroad and international exchange programs that are essential to U.S. economic and national security," said Fanta Aw, NAFSA executive director and CEO in a statement.
Congress Urged to Intervene on Behalf of International Students
NAFSA released initial findings from its collection of field reports on visa revocations and termination of SEVIS records and, with its partners in U.S. for Success Coalition, urged Congress to intervene as a matter of national interest.
NAFSA Seeks Clarity on International Student Actions
On April 4, NAFSA, the American Council on Education, and 14 other higher education associations pressed the Departments of State and Homeland Security for more clarity and communication regarding visa revocations, SEVIS record terminations, and the detention and removal of international students and scholars.
Related Resources
2025 Policy Digest
A chronological compilation of U.S. government policy and regulatory developments and related advocacy activities, updated on a monthly basis.
Connecting Our World
Connecting Our World is NAFSA's weekly newsletter that distills the top policy and regulatory developments affecting international education and identifies how members of the field can use their voice to take action in simple but meaningful ways.
Helpful Resources
Helpful resources from NAFSA and others on initiatives under the Second Trump Administration