Updates June 5, 2025

Federal

• Immigration

  • The administration announced a new series of travel bans and restrictions, including travel from Afghanistan, Laos and Myanmar. (Presumably, this also affects students and trainees).

  • Back in early May, Immigration and Customs Enforcement introduced two policy changes that expand terminations under Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS), including “evidence of failure to comply” and State Department revocation (for which there is no option to challenge in court). This policy teed up the State Department to conduct investigations of Chinese students.

• Higher education accreditation:

  • The Department of Education has issued a notice to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, declaring that due to Title VI violations, Columbia University is no longer eligible for accreditation. Without accreditation, universities cannot receive federal student financial aid.

• Research

  • In testimony for the lawsuit over the cancellation of funds for research on gender affirming care, NIH officials confirmed receiving orders from DOGE to cancel awards, including all research on gender identity, and new requirements for DOGE review for all new awards prior to release (i.e. submissions already passed through scientific and administrative review, and selected for funding).

Federal: Congressional Reconciliation Bill

TBD, expect major reductions in Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and federal financial aid

Federal: Department of Health and Human Services Detailed Budget for 2026

Forthcoming