As colleges and universities face mounting federal scrutiny, dotEDU Live hosts Jon Fansmith, Mushtaq Gunja, and Sarah Spreitzer break down the latest developments from the Department of Education, the White House, and Congress. They discuss the Education Department’s revised FAQ on DEI policies, newly confirmed Secretary Linda McMahon’s plans for the department, and the Trump administration’s increasing use of federal funding to pressure institutions. The conversation also covers ongoing research funding disruptions, the potential for a government shutdown, and heightened federal investigations into campus protests. 

Send suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation on X or Bluesky or email podcast@acenet.edu.

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show: 

Dear Colleague Letter SFFA v. Harvard  U.S. Department of Education | Feb. 14, 2025 

ACE, Higher Education Groups Urge Department of Education to Rescind DEI "Dear Colleague" Letter  ACE | March 3, 2025 

U.S. Department of Education Releases Frequently Asked Questions on Dear Colleague Letter About Racial Preferencing  U.S. Department of Education | March 1, 2025 

Secretary McMahon: Our Department's Final Mission  U.S. Department of Education | March 3, 2025 

Linda McMahon Confirmed as Education Secretary  Inside Higher Ed | March 3, 2025    Education Dept. Workers Offered Buyouts Ahead of ‘Very Significant’ Layoffs  The New York Times | Feb. 28, 2025 

Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative  The White House | Feb. 26, 2025 

Trump Threatens to Pull Federal Funds for U.S. Schools Allowing ‘Illegal Protests”  The Guardian | March 4, 2025 

ED, HHS, and GSA Announce Additional Measures to End Anti-Semitic Harassment on College Campuses  U.S. Department of Education | March 3, 2025