How 4 of Trump’s policy actions could impact higher education in 2025

Higher Ed Dive

Natalie Schwartz, Laura Spitalniak, and Ben Unglesbee

January 31, 2025

The opening days of President Donald Trump’s second term have been marked by an executive order blitz. Trump has signed over three dozen executive orders — and counting — in less than two weeks.

Those directives aim to carry out many of Trump’s campaign promises, including tightening immigration, cracking down on student protests, and stamping out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Many of his early orders could have far-reaching impacts for colleges and universities, which have found themselves navigating mandates that are often unclear in their scope.

Below, we’re rounding up four of Trump’s early executive actions and how they could affect the higher education sector in the year ahead.

Scrutiny grows over campus unrest

Trump signed an executive order Wednesday aiming to crack down on antisemitism, particularly at colleges and universities. The directive orders all federal agencies to identify measures they can take to curb antisemitism within 60 days, citing an “unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence.”

The executive order cites a Republican-led House report issued late last year that accused colleges of failing to protect students against antisemitism and making “shocking concessions” to protesters who set up encampments. The report called for more federal oversight of colleges.

In a fact sheet accompanying the executive order, Trump pledged to deport noncitizen students who are “Hamas sympathizers.”

“To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” the fact sheet stated.

However, free speech scholars and civil rights groups raised concerns about the executive order, arguing that it conflates criticism against Israel with antisemitism and that deporting noncitizens over political speech would be unconstitutional, Reuters reported.

The order directs the attorney general to list and analyze lawsuits against and involving colleges that allege civil rights violations over antisemitism in the wake of Oct. 7, 2023, the day that Hamas attacked Israel.

It also orders the education secretary to report all Title VI complaints against education institutions involving antisemitism, including those that have been resolved. Title VI bars discrimination based on race, color or national origin.

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