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.
- Guidance related to federal immigration enforcement (Jan. 28, 2025)
- Message from OVPR on Federal Grant Pause (Jan. 28, 2025)
- Information and resources related to new federal orders and policies (Jan. 27, 2025)
- University of Michigan and the incoming presidential administration (Jan. 22, 2025)
Information by topic
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.
Jan. 27, 2025
- Executive Order: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity
- Executive Order: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing
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.”
Jan. 27, 2025
- Executive Order: Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats
- Executive Order: Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship
- Executive Order: America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State
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.
Jan. 28, 2025
Guidance to UM Faculty, Staff and Community on Federal Immigration Enforcement Activity on Campus
Jan. 27, 2025
- Executive Order: Protecting the American People Against Invasion
“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.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2025
