Updates related to federal orders, memos and agency guidance

In January 2025, new presidential and congressional leadership in Washington D.C. began issuing executive orders, memos and agency guidance, including some with the potential to impact our work and community at University of Michigan. The implications of many of these measures are unclear and will likely depend on how they are interpreted and applied, both by agencies and, ultimately, the courts. The university will post information and resources to this page, and we ask that students, faculty and staff check back often for updates.

Now and always, we will continue to pursue ground-breaking innovations, develop new ideas that help fuel the economy and to advance teaching and learning in ways that strengthen our state, nation and world.

Information by topic

Jan. 31, 2025

The executive order Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism builds on previous federal initiatives to ensure protection against antisemitic harassment and discrimination in schools and on college campuses. It directs federal agencies to enhance efforts in prosecuting and holding accountable those who perpetrate such acts.

Specifically, it directs the head of each department or agency, within 60 days, to identify authorities or actions that might be used to combat antisemitism and to also provide an inventory and analysis of all pending administrative complaints that involve institutions of higher education and allege civil rights violations related to post-October 7, 2023 campus antisemitism.

It further directs the U.S. Attorney General to provide an inventory and an analysis of all court cases alleging civil rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023 antisemitism and indicate whether the Attorney General intends to or has taken any action with respect to such matters. It also directs the U.S. Secretary of Education to provide an inventory and analysis of all Title VI complaints and administrative actions related to antisemitism — pending or resolved after October 7, 2023 — within the department’s Office for Civil Rights.

Finally, it directs the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Education and Secretary of Homeland Security, within 60 days, to provide a report and recommendations to familiarize institutions of higher education with the grounds for inadmissibility into the U.S.

The university is monitoring the situation and working to assess the potential impact of the order.

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Jan. 27, 2025

The administration has issued executive orders regarding DEI that include a number of elements. “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” directs the Attorney General to provide “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.”

The order attempts to classify institutions receiving federal student aid (Title IV funding) as federal subcontractors and directs the Justice and Education departments to issue guidance that identifies “the measures and practices required to comply” with the Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard University case. This guidance expands the application of the Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action to areas beyond admissions.  

The order also directs each agency to identify “up to nine potential civil compliance investigations” of organizations including publicly traded corporations, large nonprofits and institutions of higher education with endowments over 1 billion dollars.

“Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing” requires federal agencies to terminate “equity-related” grants or contracts, and all DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees. Agencies are also directed to provide a listing of all “Federal contractors who have provided DEI training or DEI training materials to agency or department employees,” and all “Federal grantees who received Federal funding to provide or advance DEI, DEIA, or ‘environmental justice’ programs, services, or activities since January 20, 2021.”

The university is monitoring this situation closely and working to identify any university offices or contracts that could be subject to “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.”

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Jan. 27, 2025

One order enhances vetting for all visa applicants, including F-1 and J-1 students, and directs the departments of State and Homeland Security to ensure that applicants “do not bear hostile attitudes” toward U.S. institutions. These provisions could impact visa processing times and have other implications.

A separate order ends birthright citizenship, in which individuals born in the U.S. are American citizens, regardless of their parents’ status in the country. The order extends to individuals born to mothers lawfully but temporarily in the U.S., such as on student visas, where the father is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The order is being challenged and enjoined in court.

The order “America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State” directs the Department of State to align all policies and programs with an “America First” approach, which could have implications for State Department-funded international exchange and study abroad programs.

The university is monitoring the situation. Individuals with questions should contact the International Center.

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Feb. 4, 2025

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Jan. 29 rescinded a directive that froze spending on federal grants. The directive to federal agencies had been issued Jan. 27 and ordered a “temporary pause [on] all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders…” OMB later released a subsequent question-and-answer document to clarify the scope of the directive, stressing that any federal program not implicated by the president’s recent executive orders is not subject to the freeze.

The university is monitoring the situation and asks that principal investigators continue to forward any directives, memoranda, or stop-work orders they receive to their school/department research administrators for action.

Jan. 27, 2025

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on January 21 issued a memo pausing public communications and issuance of documents. Separately, HHS has instructed staff to suspend all work-related travel. HHS and related agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have also suspended those HHS committees that are subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). This includes NIH study sections and NIH Advisory Councils.

The university is monitoring this situation closely.

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Jan. 31, 2025

The administration has issued an executive order, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government, stating “it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female” which is grounded in an individual’s biological classification at birth. Under the order, all agencies are directed to use the term “sex” not “gender” in federal policies and documents and federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology.

A second executive order, Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, states “it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another.” The order directs the head of each executive department or agency that provides research or education grants to medical institutions, including medical schools and hospitals, to ensure institutions “end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children.”

The United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued new guidance to K-12 schools and institutions of higher education advising educators and administrators that OCR will enforce Title IX using the interpretation of “sex” to mean “the objective, immutable characteristic of being born male or female.”

The university is assessing the potential impact of these actions.

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Feb. 3, 2025

Clarification was sent regarding the January 28 message about the rights of immigration enforcement officials to enter spaces at the University of Michigan. While classrooms are restricted areas that require a warrant for entry, the guidance mistakenly said that classroom buildings are similarly restricted. That was incorrect, as many classroom buildings include public areas that are open to both the general public and law enforcement. The guidance has been updated accordingly.  

The university remains committed to complying with federal and state law. Members of our community must not obstruct or interfere in any way with the actions of law enforcement, including representatives of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Updated guidance to UM Faculty, Staff and Community on Federal Immigration Enforcement Activity on Campus (Feb. 2, 2024)

Jan. 28, 2025

Guidance to UM Faculty, Staff and Community on Federal Immigration Enforcement Activity on Campus (replaced by updated guidance)

Jan. 27, 2025

“Protecting the American People Against Invasion” requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to review contracts, grants, and agreements between the federal government and “non-governmental organizations supporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens.”

Separately, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a directive that rescinded a long-standing policy that identified schools, hospitals, and churches as “sensitive locations” and limited them from immigration enforcement actions. As a result, Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer treat these “sensitive locations,” including college campuses, any differently from other locations.

The Department of Justice has instructed federal prosecutors to pursue charges against state or local officials who attempt to thwart federal immigration enforcement efforts.

The university is monitoring the situation.

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Updated: Feb. 3, 2025