Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman sent a letter to members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation on June 9 expressing concern to the indiscriminate cuts to federal financial aid programs contained within President Trump’s FY26 Discretionary Budget Request.
June 6, 2025
Board of Regents Meeting Update
At the June meeting of the Board of Regents, President Rothman shared his concerns related to the impacts of proposed changes to federal financial aid being discussed in Congress. He was joined by several UW-Milwaukee students who spoke directly to the importance of the Pell Grant as they pursue their degrees. These students are among the nearly 31,600 students across the Universities of Wisconsin that received the Pell Grant in 2023-2024.
Recognizing the importance of federal financial aid programs to student success, President Rothman unveiled its Fuel Futures website, which serves as a portal for UWs graduates and students to share their stories about how Pell Grants and other federal financial aid helped create educational opportunities.
President Rothman said, “Federal financial aid, especially the Pell Grant, is a lifeline to many of our neediest students…Over the decades, countless Wisconsin students have benefited from these crucial programs, and as these students have benefited, so have Wisconsin communities and employers. Let’s make sure the next generation of students has the same opportunities as the generations before them.” Read the Fuel Futures website announcement.
Stories can be submitted on the Fuel Futures website. Participants will be asked to indicate their university affiliation, graduation year, and current career. All submissions will be subject to review.
President Trump’s FY26 Discretionary Budget Request
On Friday, May 30, the Trump Administration released their full FY26 Discretionary Budget Request, following the earlier release of the “Skinny” Budget Request. If interested, you can view the full budget appendix.
As expected, the budget proposes dramatic changes and reductions to federal financial aid and federal research agencies; however, it is important to remember that the budget does not become law. Instead, Congress will need to advance separate appropriations bills to fund the government. The Universities of Wisconsin continue to remain engaged with Congress and our national associations to push back on these proposed cuts and will continue to share updates with your campus legislative liaisons as appropriate.
White House Proclamation Concerning Entry into the U.S.
On June 4, 2025, the White House issued a new proclamation concerning entry into the United States for the citizens of 19 countries. The proclamation will become effective on June 9, 2025.
- Countries for which entry to the U.S. for immigrants has been suspended include: Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
- Countries for which entry to the U.S. for all nonimmigrants has been suspended include: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
- Additional countries for which entry to the U.S. for certain nonimmigrants on specific visas has been suspended include: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela.
This proclamation may not apply to immigrant and/or nonimmigrant travelers who meet exceptions as outlined in the proclamation.
We are currently reviewing the announcement in detail to fully understand the changes and how they impact members of our international community. We encourage members of our international community to likewise review the proclamation and weigh the risks and benefits associated with any upcoming international travel if their home country is listed. We will continue to do our best to communicate with and assist members of our international community as we navigate these changes.
The decision to travel outside the U.S. is a personal decision. Under the current circumstances, and until there is further clarification on how the new proclamation will be implemented, travel should be seriously reconsidered by those whose country of record is named in the proclamation. The proclamation is detailed and contains language that each traveler should assess for themselves or with the assistance of an immigration attorney.
Association Updates
Last week, several national higher education associations sent a letter to Secretary Rubio on recent announcements related to student visa interviews and processing.
Recent Federal Actions
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Recognizes June as ‘Title IX Month’
- White House: Proposed Rescissions of Budgetary Resources
- USCIS: CBP, ICE, and USCIS to Ramp Up Crackdown on Visa Overstays Following Boulder Terrorist Attack
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation
- White House: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats
- White House: Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education to Implement New Identity Validation Processes to Combat Student Aid Fraud
May 30, 2025
Litigation Update
On May 28, Attorney General Kaul announced that Wisconsin “joined a coalition of 15 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) attempt under the Trump Administration to gut funding for critical scientific research and education at universities in Wisconsin and across the nation.”
As is further noted in the release, “The NSF directive imposes a 15% cap on indirect cost reimbursements for all NSF funded research at higher education institutions. At UW-Madison, where negotiated indirect cost rates for on-campus research typically range between 50 to 60%, this cap is expected to result in an annual loss approaching $38 million by fiscal year 2028. UW-Milwaukee faces a loss of $1.5 million annually in indirect cost recovery as a result of NSF’s planned cap.”
Additional information is available in the press release and the complaint itself. For more, you can continue to monitor the Universities of Wisconsin Litigation Update page.
House Committee on Education and Workforce
On June 4, the House Committee on Education and Workforce will hold a hearing titled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the department of Education.” Secretary McMahon will be the sole witness, and if interested, you can tune in on the committee website to watch live.
Recent Federal Actions
- White House: Executive Order: Restoring Gold Standard Science
- U.S. General Services Administration: Secretary McMahon on X
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Fights Fraud in Student Aid to Protect the American Taxpayer
- Department of State: New Visa Policies Put America First, Not China
Universities of Wisconsin Litigation Update
Since the beginning of the year, the Universities of Wisconsin has been reviewing federal legislative actions, regulatory changes, and Presidential executive orders. Some of our work has been to coordinate outreach and action on those issues affecting our UW universities. Here’s an update to the work the Universities of Wisconsin has been doing specifically on federally funded projects and litigation. Go to our Federal Updates website for additional information.
Federally Funded Project Terminations, Delay, and Action
Since January 2025, the Trump Administration has issued several directives to federal agencies that resulted in the wrongful termination of approved, federally funded projects at Universities of Wisconsin that support our collective missions and the Wisconsin Idea. In addition, several federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, have delayed grant application reviews and attempted to drastically cut overhead payments for critical research.
The terminated projects include one-on-one interventions for 3-5-year-olds at risk and/or from low-income families in the areas of language, literacy, social interaction, and initiative skills; a study of the health and well-being of adolescents in an era of digital and social media; research on preventing future coronavirus pandemics; a teacher preparation program designed to address the critical shortage of qualified special education teachers serving students in Milwaukee Public Schools; and research requested by the Social Security Administration to inform evidence-based policymaking.
Meanwhile, reducing federal funding of health research could dramatically affect studies occurring right now at our universities on Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, cancer, diabetes, and other debilitating diseases.
These terminations and delays would have devastating impacts on our Universities and the broader community, harming our collective ability to pursue projects of importance to Americans; curtailing the possibility of making critical, life-saving discoveries; and limiting opportunities to train students to enter the workforce. Funding cuts and delays will lead to layoffs among staff and trainees and interrupt the progress of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students toward their degrees. They also damage Wisconsin’s and the nation’s innovation economy and international competitiveness.
The Office of General Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs at UW-Madison, and Office of Legal Affairs at UW-Milwaukee have worked closely with the Wisconsin Attorney General and the Governor’s Office to pursue legal challenges to some of these terminations and the dismantling of some federal agencies by preparing declarations that present factual evidence about the harm of recent actions taken by the federal government. UW–Madison has also provided declarations in cases brought by higher-education associations of which the university is a member.
Litigation Action on Federal Directives
To date, Wisconsin has joined the following multi-state lawsuits to fight unlawful impacts to the Universities of Wisconsin, and in some cases, submitted declarations in suits brought by partners in higher education. Some lawsuits have resulted in court orders that block the federal government from executing these directives until further legal judgement can be reached:
- New York v. Trump (District of Rhode Island Case No. 25-cv-00039) – filed 1/28/25
- Multi-state case challenging the OMB “funding freeze”
- Mass. v. NIH (District of Massachusetts Case No. 25-cv-10338) – filed 2/10/25
- Multi-state case challenging NIH’s proposal to reduce indirect cost rate to 15%
- AAU v. NIH (District of Massachusetts Case No. 25-cv-10346) – filed 2/10/25
- AAU case challenging NIH’s proposal to reduce indirect cost rate to 15%
- California v. Dept. of Education (District of Massachusetts Case No. 25-cv-10548) – filed 3/6/25
- Multi-state case challenging U.S. Dept. of Education termination of TQP and SEED grants
- New York v. McMahon (District of Massachusetts Case No. 1:25-cv-10601) – filed 3/13/25
- Multi-state case challenging the dismantling of the Department of Education
- Colorado v. HHS (District of Rhode Island Case No. 25-cv-00121) – filed 4/1/25
- Multi-state case challenging HHS terminations of COVID-19 related grants
- Rhode Island v. Trump (District of Rhode Island Case No. 1:25-cv-00128) – filed 4/4/25
- Multi-state case challenging the dismantling of Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS)
- Mass. v. HHS (District of Massachusetts Case No. 25-cv-10814) – filed 4/4/25
- Multi-state case challenging NIH grant terminations and NIH delays in the grant-awarding process
- AAU v. Dept. of Energy (District of Massachusetts Case No. 1:25-cv-10912-ADB) – filed 4/14/25
- AAU-led case challenging DOE’s 15% cap on indirect cost recovery
- Maryland v. Corporation for National and Community Service, operating as AmeriCorps (District of Maryland Case No. 1:25-cv-01363) – filed 4/29/24
- Multi-state case challenging the dismantling of AmeriCorps
- ACLS, et. al. v. McDonald (Southern District of New York Case No: 1:25-cv-03657) – filed 5/1/2025
- Association-led case to stop the dismantling of the National Endowment for the Humanities
- New York v. Kennedy (District of Rhode Island Case No. 1:25-cv-00196) – filed 5/5/25
- Multi-state case challenging the dismantling of HHS
- AAU v. National Science Foundation (District of Massachusetts Case No. 1:25-cv-11231) – filed 5/5/25
- Association-led case challenging NSF’s cap on indirect cost recovery
- New York v. National Science Foundation (Southern District of New York Case No. 1:25-cv-04452) – filed 5/28/25
- Multi-state case challenging NSF’s cap on indirect cost recovery and award terminations
May 23, 2025
Higher Education Leaders Share Concerns on Federal Financial Aid
The leaders of the Universities of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Wisconsin Technical College System sent a letter to Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation highlighting concerns with the Student Success and Taxpayer Saving Plan as passed by the House Education and Workforce Committee. If interested, you can read the letter from Jay Rothman, President, Universities of Wisconsin, Eric Fulcomer, President, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Layla Merrifield President, Wisconsin Technical College System.
On May 22, these leaders gathered together for a press conference where they discussed their concerns with the legislation and its impact on students- some of whom attended the event. For more, you can read a statement from each leader, which was shared following the press conference.
In the background of this and as Congress continues to work to advance the broader reconciliation package, several national associations representing higher education wrote letters to Congress expressing similar concerns. Importantly, the Universities of Wisconsin continue to engage with Members of Congress – including the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation – and through our national associations on issues of importance and concern to our universities. Further updates continue to be shared with designated university legislative liaisons, who are engaged in similar efforts both state and federally as appropriate.
Reconciliation Update
On May 22, 2025, via a vote of 215-214-1, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation now moves to the Senate where further consideration and adjustments are expected following the Memorial Day Recess.
Litigation Update
On Mary 22, 2025, a preliminary injunction was granted in the State of New York v. Linda McMahon, a multi-state case challenging the dismantling of the Department of Education. At the time of the injunction, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said, “Today’s order preliminarily blocks the Trump administration’s sweeping and lawless attempt to gut the Department of Education. While this case is far from over, this ruling is a clear victory for students in Wisconsin.” For more from the Attorney General, you can read his press release.
Recent Federal Actions
- Department of Commerce: Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on the Tech Hubs Program
- Department of Education: Secretary McMahon Announces Immediate Increased Funding, New Grant Program for Charter Schools
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Releases Secretary McMahon’s Supplemental Grant Priorities
- Department of Health and Human Services: HHS and Harvard University Grant Terminations
- Department of Justice: Justice Department Establishes Civil Rights Fraud Initiative
- Department of Homeland Security: Harvard University Loses Student and Exchange Visitor Program Certification for Pro-Terrorist Conduct
University and College Leaders Share Concern on Financial Aid
The leaders of the Universities of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Wisconsin Technical College System sent a letter to Wisconsin’s congressional delegation highlighting concerns with the Student Success and Taxpayer Saving Plan as passed by the House Education and Workforce Committee.
Read the letter from Jay Rothman, President, Universities of Wisconsin, Eric Fulcomer, President, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Layla Merrifield President, Wisconsin Technical College System.
May 16, 2025
Congressional Updates
This week, throughout various committees in the House of Representatives, the chamber continued to advance reconciliation proposals as directed by H.Con.Res.14, the FY25 Concurrent Budget Resolution. The House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Agriculture Committee websites contain additional information on these pieces, and in the coming days, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the full package before it will be sent to the Senate for further consideration, alteration, and additional votes. Importantly, the Universities of Wisconsin continue to engage with Members of Congress – including the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation – and through our national associations on issues of importance and concern to our universities across these proposals. Further updates continue to be shared with designated university legislative liaisons, who are engaged in similar efforts both state and federally as appropriate.
In the background of these developments, next week several House and Senate committees will hold hearings related to higher education.
- Senate HELP Committee Hearing
On May 21, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Time, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing titled, “The State of Higher Education.” For more details, including a link to watch live, you can review the Committee’s press release.
- Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development
On May 21, beginning at 9:15 a.m. Central Time, the Committee on Education and Workforce’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will hold a hearing titled, “Restoring Excellence: The Case Against DEI.” For more details, including a link to watch live, you can review the Committee’s hearing page.
- House Appropriations Committee Hearing
On May 21, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central time, the House Appropriations Committee will hold a budget hearing on the Department of Education. For more details, including a link to watch Secretary McMahon testify live, you can review the Committee’s hearing page.
Political Activity Guidance Reminder
As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the emerging federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.
Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.
In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.
For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.
Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.
Recent Federal Actions
- Department of Energy: Energy Department Aligns Award Criteria for For-profit, Non-profit Organizations, and State and Local Governments, Saving $935 Million Annually
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Celebrates President Trump’s Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education
- Department of Education: Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism Statement on Additional Harvard Actions
UWs Litigation Update
The UWs Office of General Counsel, the Office of Legal Affairs at UW-Madison, and the Office of Legal Affairs at UW-Milwaukee have worked with state partners to pursue legal challenges to some of these terminations and the dismantling of certain federal agencies. Read more and review the lawsuits and submitted declarations on the Universities of Wisconsin Litigation Update.
May 9, 2025
Recent Federal Actions
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Reminds Colleges and Universities of Their Obligations to Help Struggling Borrowers
- White House: Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research
- Department of Education: ED, HHS, and GSA Initiate Review of Anti-Semitic Activity at the University of Washington
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Launches Title IX Investigation into Western Carolina University
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Opens Foreign Funding Investigation into University of Pennsylvania After Discovering Inaccurate and Untimely Foreign Financial Disclosures
Litigation Update
The Universities of Wisconsin have continued to review federal legislative actions, regulatory changes, and Presidential executive orders which may impact our universities, our collective missions, and the Wisconsin Idea. Since January 2025, several directives from the Trump Administration to federal agencies have resulted in the wrongful termination of approved, federally-funded projects. Together, the Office of General Counsel, the Office of Legal Affairs at UW-Madison, and the Office of Legal Affairs at UW-Milwaukee have worked with state partners to pursue legal challenges to some of these terminations and the dismantling of certain federal agencies. To read more and review the lawsuits and submitted declarations, read the Universities of Wisconsin Litigation Update.
Student Loan Borrower Support Reminder to Universities
The U.S. Department of Education issued a ‘Dear Colleague Letter’ to universities reminding them of their shared responsibility under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to support student loan borrowers. Read the Department of Education news release announcing the guidance.
May 2, 2025
Recent Federal Actions
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Finds the University of Pennsylvania Has Violated Title IX
- Department of Education: ED, HHS Launch Title VI Investigations of Harvard University and Harvard Law Review Amid Allegations of Discriminatory Practices
- White House: Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens
- White House: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens
- House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce: Markup to Comply with Reconciliation Directives Included in H.Con.Res. 14 Section 2001(B)(3)
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Expands Accreditation Options for Colleges and Universities
- White House: Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media
- National Science Foundation: Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate
- Department of Education: Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Statement on President Trump’s FY 2026 Skinny Budget
House Committee on Education and the Workforce Markup
Earlier this Spring, the House and Senate adopted a concurrent budget resolution, which set forth a path for the chambers to work on a budget reconciliation bill. That process began in earnest this week with various House Committees meeting to markup their contributions to the overall bill. Additional markups are expected as soon as next week.
Of particular interest, the House Committee on Education and Workforce met to mark up their legislation, the Student Success and Savings Plan, on April 29, 2025. Among several provisions, the legislation makes several changes to student loans, Pell Grant eligibility, and includes a risk sharing proposal that was previously included as part of the College Cost Reduction Act in the last session of Congress.
Should you wish to review the legislation, the section-by-section authored by the Committee Majority and a Committee Minority fact sheet may be helpful; the bill text the committee voted on can be found here.
The legislative process will continue to play out over the coming weeks with other committees advancing their legislation before they are combined prior to consideration on the House floor. We remain actively engaged with Congressional stakeholders and our national associations to share concerns and opportunities for improvement.
New! FAQs for International Students, Faculty, and Staff
We’ve added new FAQs addressing visa revocation, immigration staff actions, study abroad, student degree and enrollment, and travel. See those updated FAQs on our International Student, Faculty & Staff Resources page.
April 25, 2025
Recent Federal Actions
- National Science Foundation: Updates on NSF Priorities
- National Institutes of Health: Notice of Civil Rights Term and Condition of Award
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education to Begin Federal Student Loan Collections, Other Actions to Help Borrowers Get Back into Repayment
- White House: Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities
- White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Demands Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities
- White House: Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen High Education
- White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reforms Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education
- White House: White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Promotes Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs
- White House: Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future
- White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Modernizes American Workforce Programs for the High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future
- White House: Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies
- White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reinstates Commonsense School Discipline Policies
- White House: Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy
- White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Signs Landmark Order to Restore Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy
- White House: Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth
- White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Advances AI Education for American Youth
- Department of Education: Secretary of Education Statements on President Trump’s Education Executive Orders
- Department of Education: President Trump’s First 100 Days: Education in America
Executive Orders
This week, President Trump signed a series of executive orders related to education. These orders include an examination of accreditation and Section 117 reporting requirements. The Universities of Wisconsin continue to review these orders, and as there are details to share on these – or any other orders – information will be disseminated via the university’s federal updates workgroup representative.
Advocacy Updates
The Universities of Wisconsin continue to engage with Members of Congress – including the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation – and through our national associations on additional issues of importance and concern to our universities. In advance of Congress considering budget reconciliation legislation in the coming weeks, these efforts have included discussions regarding the criticality of federal financial aid and fully funding research agencies, among other topics. Further updates continue to be shared with designated university legislative liaisons, who are engaged in similar efforts both state and federally as appropriate.
Follow Legal Challenges on Litigation Tracker
You can track legal challenges to the administration’s executive orders and administrative actions on the Just Security litigation tracker.