Good morning,
The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the University of Missouri System regarding the federal government and higher education. We have put together a list of news articles that will keep you informed of the actions taken by the executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government. These articles are meant to be informative and are not a reflection of the views or stance of the system regarding these issues.
If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders schniedersd@umsystem.edu and/or Emily Lucas el59bz@umsystem.edu.
Follow UM Government Relations on Twitter: @UMGovRelations
Executive Orders
The White House – April 24, 2025
On April 24, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed the executive order "Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources," aiming to accelerate the exploration and extraction of critical minerals from the ocean floor to bolster national security and economic resilience. The order directs federal agencies to streamline permitting processes for seabed mining under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, facilitating the development of domestic capabilities for exploring, characterizing, collecting, and processing seabed mineral resources. It emphasizes the importance of mapping the U.S. outer continental shelf, supporting investment in deep-sea science and technology, and establishing the United States as a global leader in responsible seabed mineral development. The initiative seeks to reduce dependency on foreign sources, particularly China, for critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, titanium, and rare earth elements, which are vital for defense, infrastructure, and energy sectors. While the administration highlights the economic and strategic benefits, environmental groups and international bodies have raised concerns about potential ecological impacts and the unilateral nature of the move.
The White House – April 23, 2025
On April 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled "Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities," aiming to strengthen enforcement of Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. This section mandates that U.S. colleges and universities disclose significant foreign gifts and contracts. The order directs the Secretary of Education to reverse prior policies that allowed institutions to obscure the true sources and purposes of foreign funding. It also mandates increased public access to detailed information about such funding and calls for audits and investigations to ensure compliance. Furthermore, the order stipulates that adherence to these disclosure requirements is a condition for receiving federal grants, with noncompliant institutions potentially facing enforcement actions by the Department of Justice.
The White House – April 23, 2025
On April 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled "Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education," aiming to overhaul the U.S. higher education accreditation system. The order criticizes accrediting agencies for prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards over educational quality and student outcomes. It directs the Secretary of Education to evaluate and potentially revoke the recognition of accreditors that enforce DEI-based criteria, which the administration deems discriminatory and contrary to recent Supreme Court rulings. Specifically, the order targets the American Bar Association and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education for their DEI requirements in accrediting law and medical schools, respectively. The executive order emphasizes a shift towards assessing institutions based on tangible student outcomes, such as graduation rates and return on investment, rather than demographic considerations. This move is part of a broader initiative to refocus federal education policy on merit-based principles and reduce what the administration views as ideological overreach in higher education. Fact sheet, .
The White House – April 23, 2025
On April 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed the executive order "Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth," aiming to integrate AI education into the U.S. K-12 system. The order establishes a White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, chaired by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and includes key federal departments such as Education, Labor, Energy, and Agriculture. The task force is charged with promoting AI literacy, developing AI curricula, and identifying federal funding opportunities to support AI education initiatives. Additionally, the order directs the Department of Education to prioritize professional development for educators in AI technologies and introduces a "Presidential AI Challenge" to encourage student and educator engagement in AI. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning, aiming to prepare Americans for an AI-driven future.
Federal News
NextGov – April 24, 2025
Sethuraman Panchanathan confirmed his resignation to NSF employees and the public in two separate statements. The NSF press office also confirmed Panchanathan’s exit. Panchanathan was initially appointed as director of the NSF in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first administration. He also served under President Joe Biden. The agency has drawn controversy in the last few months following the Trump administration’s firing of dozens of employees at NSF and cancellation of over 400 grant awards following a realignment of agency research priorities.
Bloomberg Government – April 24,2025
President Donald J. Trump is reportedly considering significant reductions to the Economic Development Administration (EDA), a federal agency that supports economic revitalization in communities, including former coal and manufacturing towns. The proposed cuts align with the administration's broader efforts to streamline federal spending and reduce the size of government, as outlined in initiatives like Project 2025. Critics argue that diminishing the EDA's role could hinder economic recovery in regions already facing substantial challenges. Supporters contend that reallocating resources may lead to more efficient use of taxpayer funds. The potential restructuring of the EDA reflects the administration's emphasis on fiscal conservatism and a shift towards empowering local entities over federal intervention.
The Hill – April 24, 2025
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned states that they will lose federal funding for roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects if they continue to foster diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs; impede President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts; or defy other directives from the administration. The Transportation chief specifically highlighted anti-discrimination laws and the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action as the basis for pulling funds from states with DEI programs, and he wrote that providing driver’s licenses to migrants without legal status or hampering Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations also will be considered grounds for withholding funds.
The Hill – April 24, 2025
China canceled 12,000 metric tons of United States pork shipments amid a high-stakes trade standoff between the superpowers. China, one of the biggest U.S. trading partners, axed 12,000 metric tons of U.S. pork orders, the data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows. China, behind Mexico and Japan, was the U.S.’s third-biggest market for pork in 2024, importing some 475,000 metric tons valued at more than $1.1 billion.
AP News – April 24, 2025
The judge overseeing the rewriting of the college sports rulebook threw a potentially deal-wrecking roadblock into the mix, insisting parties in the $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit redo the part of the proposed settlement involving roster limits that many schools are already putting in motion. The settlement in the landmark class-action lawsuit called for schools to no longer be bound by scholarship limits for their teams, but rather by roster limits in which everyone would be eligible for aid.
Inside Higher Ed – April 24, 2025
Federal judges in Maryland, New Hampshire, and Washington, D.C., issued temporary injunctions blocking the U.S. Department of Education's directives aimed at limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in K–12 and higher education. These directives, issued by the Trump administration, sought to prohibit race-conscious programming and policies, including DEI offices, scholarships, and faculty diversity requirements, under the interpretation that such practices constituted illegal racial discrimination. The rulings were in response to lawsuits filed by major teacher unions and civil rights organizations, including the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the NAACP, which argued that the directives were vague, infringed upon free speech, and overstepped the Department's authority. The judges' decisions cited potential legal and constitutional violations, including overreach of statutory authority and vagueness. Although these are temporary rulings pending further review, they present significant national implications, granting immediate relief to schools under pressure to dismantle DEI programs and marking a substantial legal obstacle to the administration’s education policy agenda.
Inside Higher Education – April 22, 2025
The National Science Foundation is changing its priorities and cutting hundreds of grants. The agency has spent decades trying to attract more women and racial minorities to STEM professions and to improve scientific media literacy. But in released Friday, the NSF said those efforts are no longer consistent with its mission. An attached explained all awards that “are not aligned” with NSF’s mission on either front have been terminated, however the FAQ did not specify how many grants will be cut or the sum of their value. But the Department of Government Efficiency said that NSF canceled 402 grants that led to $233 million in savings. NSF doled out approximately $8.4 billion through nearly 10,600 new awards in 2024, . The FAQ also explained that future grant applicants should only focus on the first six of the agency’s seven congressionally outlined goals, such as increasing economic competitiveness, supporting national defense and enhancing partnerships between academia and industry.
U.S. Department of Education – April 21, 2025
On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5, ending a pause that began in March 2020. The Department's Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) will implement measures such as wage garnishments and tax refund offsets to recover unpaid debts. Borrowers are encouraged to explore options like income-driven repayment plans and loan rehabilitation to avoid these collection actions. The Department aims to support borrowers in returning to repayment while ensuring fiscal responsibility.
2025 Congressional Calendar
Tentative 2025 congressional calendar, subject to change.
Reviewed 2025-04-28