NACAC Advocacy and Policy Updates for March 5, 2025

NACAC is actively monitoring executive orders that pertain to education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and their potential impacts on the field of college admission counseling. NACAC also is advocating on behalf of its 28,000 members for its policy priorities.

Review previous advocacy and policy updates. 

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Senate confirms Linda McMahon as secretary of education (March 3, 2025) 

The Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as the 13th secretary of education in a 51-45 vote along party lines. Through a press release, Secretary McMahon stated, “The Department will be focused on advancing education freedom, not building up government-run systems. We will empower states and districts to have more say in what is working on the ground for students instead of bureaucratic edicts from Washington, D.C.” Preserving the national commitment to education, including the funding and resources on which our schools, students, and families rely, is one of NACAC’s highest priorities. We need your help in letting your elected officials know: Do not eliminate or dismantle the Department of Education.  

New FAQs address administration’s approach to enforcing Title VI (March 3, 2025) 

On Feb. 28, the Department of Education published Frequently Asked Questions About Racial Preferences and Stereotypes Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, expanding on its Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter, which drew swift legal action on the grounds of being overly vague and inhibiting protected speech. The FAQ covers a narrower scope and provides specific scenarios illustrating the department’s approach to enforcing Title VI in light of the Supreme Court’s SFFA ruling. While the new document clarifies how the Office for Civil Rights will assess complaints related to racial preferences, DEI programs, and discrimination in federally funded institutions based on prior court precedent and statute, it continues to reflect the administration’s restrictive stance on race-conscious policies and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. To file a complaint for any civil rights matter pertaining to education, complete the Discrimination Complaint Form and send to OCR@ed.gov.   

Department of Education releases anti-DEI portal (Feb. 28, 2025) 

The Department of Education launched an End DEI portal “for parents, students, teachers, and the broader community to submit reports of discrimination based on race or sex in publicly funded K-12 schools,” according to the department’s press release. The portal is the latest of a continued political effort to undermine, misrepresent, and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in education. NACAC continues to encourage Congress and the administration to consider that DEI benefits our communities, while also protecting the rights of those who have been systemically excluded from equal opportunity. 

House passes budget resolution to cut education and workforce programs by $330 billion (Feb. 26, 2025) 

The House of Representatives passed a Trump administration-backed budget resolution that would cut taxes by $4.5 trillion and cut federal spending by $2 trillion. Among the cuts are $330 billion from education and workforce programs. Ahead of the vote, NACAC urged representatives to oppose the resolution, as polling indicates strong public support for increased education funding and opposition to eliminating the Department of Education. The bill will need to be reconciled with the Senate, which has passed its own version of the budget, and then implemented by the House Education & Workforce committee, which will provide additional detail on which programs would be cut to meet the reductions required by the final budget. See how your representative voted and contact your members of Congress to urge them to not cut education funding. 

Education Department sued over anti-DEI guidance (Feb. 25, 2025) 

American Federation of Teachers has sued the Department of Education, challenging the Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter on the grounds that it violates the First and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, exceeds the Supreme Court’s ruling on race-conscious practices, and creates legal uncertainty for educators. Read more. 

NACAC joins 68 higher education organizations in response to Dear Colleague letter (Feb. 25, 2025) 

NACAC signed a letter urging the Department of Education to rescind the Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter and to engage with the higher education community on compliance obligations under Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and federal civil rights law. The letter has led to confusion on campuses, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which remain legally permissible when implemented in accordance with federal law. NACAC is committed to fostering inclusive educational environments and seeks to work with the department to ensure clear, legally sound guidance that supports institutional compliance and student success. Read the letter. 

Video message from NACAC CEO (Feb. 24, 2025) 

In a short video to members, Angel B. Pérez shared more on NACAC’s work as the chief advocate for the college admission counseling profession and the importance of unity and collaboration as members confront numerous changes at the federal level. He shared NACAC resources for members, including webinars, tools for advocacy, and ways to contact Congress. Watch.  

Tell Congress to save student aid programs (Feb. 24, 2025) 

House Republicans released their fiscal year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill, which funds student aid programs. In it, both Federal Work-Study and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs are cut in half. This cut of over $1 billion dollars would harm more than 2 million low-income students should this bill be signed into law. Moreover, the Pell Grant faces a $2.7 billion shortfall, further threating aid to millions of students. It’s critical that Congress hear your opposition to these cuts that would increase student debt and make it more difficult for low-income students to attend and succeed in college. Contact Congress.  

Letter to Congress opposes DOGE cuts to education (Feb. 19, 2025) 

The Committee for Education Funding (CEF), of which NACAC is a member, submitted a letter to Congress expressing the education community’s opposition to DOGE’s cuts to education funding that were already appropriated by the legislature. The letter calls on Congress to ensure that the administration follows enacted laws and immediately ceases withholding and canceling legally enacted investments in education. Read the letter.  

Attorneys general push back on federal anti-DEI initiatives (Feb. 19, 2025) 

Attorneys general from 16 states have issued guidance that pushes back on the Trump administration’s anti-DEI initiatives. The guidance, which outlines legally compliant diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring and training practices for non-profit and business entities, is applicable in Massachusetts, Illinois, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Read more.