Trump Administration Transition Resources

*This site will be updated as new information arises*

Latest Information from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and National Institutes of Health (NIH)

2/7/2025: Announcement from NIH

  • This announcement declared a policy capping Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs at 15% for both new and certain existing grants, effective immediately.
  • In response, 22 states, including North Carolina, filed a lawsuit challenging the policy, arguing that the cap would have immediate and devastating effects on medical research – leading to layoffs, the suspension of clinical trials, and disruptions to ongoing programs.
  • On Feb. 10, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) halting the cap’s implementation in these states until a hearing scheduled for Feb. 21.
  • Separately, on Feb. 10, major higher education associations, including the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), filed a legal challenge against the administration’s decision, asserting that the cap violates established federal grant regulations and administrative law.
  • A third lawsuit was filed on February 10 by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), along with other organizations, challenging the NIH’s policy.
  • That same day, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the AAMC’s request for a nationwide temporary restraining order, blocking the implementation of the 15% cap.

1/29/2025: Memorandum from OMB

1/28/2025: Memorandum from OMB

1/27/2025: Memorandum from OMB

Trump Administration Executive Orders

Shortly after President Trump’s inauguration, he signed 26 Executive Orders (EOs) on his first day in office, and he has continued to take more of these actions. As his administration transitions, the impact of these orders are still uncertain. Here are some of the measures that have been signed.

IMMIGRATION:

  1. “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship:” Ends birthright citizenship specifically for those born in the US whose mother is not a citizen or is temporarily in the US such as on a student or nonimmigrant visa and the father is not a US citizen or lawful permanent resident
  2. “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program:” Suspends the United States Refuge Admissions Program (USRAP)
  3. “Securing our Borders:” Provisions that aim at securing US borders, including deterring and preventing the unlawful entry of aliens into the country, detaining and removing aliens who are violating immigration law, and partnering with state and local law enforcement
  4. “Protecting the American People Against Invasion:” Allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to utilize state and local law enforcement officials as immigration officers
  5. “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats:” Requires additional screening of individuals seeking and already in the US with visas

DIVERSITY PROGRAMS AND GENDER

  1. “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity:” The Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs will end “allowing or encouraging federal contractors and subcontractors to engage in workforce balancing based on race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, or national origin.”
  2. “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing:” Establishes a 60 day process for all federal agencies to end all DEI, DEIA and environmental justice offices
  3. “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government:” Defines sex as either male or female and does not recognize any other gender

REGULATION & RESEARCH

  1. “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review:” Prohibits agencies from sending a rule to the Federal register until a department or agency head reviews and approves the rule, unless the OMB Director deems the rule necessary

ANTI-SEMITISM

  1. “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism:” Seeks to “protect law and order, quell pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation, and investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in the leftist, anti-American colleges and universities”

For more details on Executive Orders, refer to this CRS Report. 

National Association Statements & Resources

APLU Statement on Pause on Federal Grants

ACE Statement by President Ted Mitchell on Federal Assistance Pause

2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources 

Additional University Resources

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research

Office of Scholarships and Student Aid

Dean of Students