NACAC Advocacy and Policy Updates for May 28, 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.

To ensure NACAC’s advocacy efforts are meeting the needs of members, NACAC launched an Impact of Recent U.S. Federal Actions survey where members are encouraged to share their perspectives on how recent federal actions are impacting their work.

Review previous advocacy and policy updates.

Jump ahead to:

Student visa freeze threatens fall 2025 enrollment (May 27, 2025) 

The Trump administration is once again targeting higher education by pausing new student visa interviews while considering a major expansion of social media vetting for international students. This move could severely disrupt visa processing, hurt students preparing to enroll for fall 2025, and financially impact universities that rely on international enrollment. It's part of a broader crackdown on institutions the administration views as politically adversarial. Urge Congress to protect international students.  

Harvard files suit over Trump's international student ban (May 27, 2025) 

Harvard is taking the Trump administration to court after the federal government abruptly revoked its ability to enroll international students. The move threatens over 6,800 students and the broader higher education ecosystem, as colleges rely heavily on international students for diversity, talent, and revenue. While a federal judge has temporarily blocked the order, the incident forces universities to reconsider how they respond to political pressure and could reshape who gets access to higher education in the U.S. The administration's action is part of a troubling trend of federal overreach with significant implications for institutional autonomy, academic freedom, and global education access. 

Federal judge blocks immigration authorities from revoking international students' legal status (May 23, 2025) 

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from revoking international students' legal status while a lawsuit challenging the policy plays out. In a sweeping injunction, Judge Jeffrey White called out the government's erratic and harmful actions, canceling student visas with little warning and leaving thousands in limbo. International students and scholars strengthen our economy, enrich our campuses, and fuel innovation. Tell Congress to make it a national priority to welcome international students and scholars. 

House passes tax bill with major implications for education (May 22, 2025) 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump's massive tax bill by a single vote. It extends tax cuts for the wealthy while slashing essential programs. The bill caps student loans, reduces Pell Grant eligibility, and shifts loan risk to colleges. It also raises the endowment tax on wealthy private universities to 21 percent, jeopardizing financial aid, and it cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, hitting low-income students and families the hardest. 

The bill now heads to the Senate. Tell Congress to vote "no" on massive cuts to financial aid. 

NACAC joins national call to support postsecondary success for students with disabilities (May 21, 2025) 

NACAC joined 24 organizations in urging Congress to preserve funding for three federal technical assistance centers that provide critical support to students with disabilities pursuing higher education. The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT), the National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD), and the Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) equip students, families, educators, and institutions with the tools needed to ensure a successful transition to college and career. These centers play an essential role in advancing equity and opportunity, and we are calling on policymakers to sustain this vital support in fiscal year 2026 and beyond. 

NACAC, Title IV-A Coalition advocates on Capitol Hill (May 15, 2025) 

NACAC's Director of Advocacy, Sean Robins, joined the Title IV-A Coalition on Capitol Hill to advocate for programs that advance college access, college preparatory courses, and the critical work of school counselors. Title IV-A, also known as the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, provides flexible funding that helps schools fill gaps in counseling, enrichment, and student wellness, especially in under-resourced communities. Earlier this month, NACAC joined over 200 organizations and the Title IV-A Coalition in urging Congress to fund Title IV-A at $1.6 billion in fiscal year 2026.