On March 3, newly confirmed U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued her statement regarding the Department’s “Final Mission.” That same day the Task Force on Antisemitism announced its initial investigations regarding alleged violations of Title VI and shortly thereafter announced that it was withholding $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University. On March 10, the Task Force on Antisemitism announced an additional 60 investigations into postsecondary institutions across the United States; March 14 saw the announcement of another 45 investigations, pertaining to enforcement of the February 14 Dear Colleague Letter.
The continued viability of the Department itself may also be in question. On March 6, a draft executive order leaked to the public, which sets forth steps the Trump Administration anticipates taking to “facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities,” just before thousands of Department staff were laid off via a mass reduction in force.
To parse the nuance of these myriad actions and their impacts on the practice of higher education law, please join NACUA for a 45-minute fireside chat featuring NACUA Board Chair Traevena Byrd, Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary to the Board at American University, in conversation with Lisa Brown, Partner and Higher Education Practice Group Head at WilmerHale and former U.S. Department of Education General Counsel. This fireside chat is being held in collaboration with the National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities (NAICU), and the event will only be open to members of NACUA and NAICU.
This fireside chat is a part of NACUA’s Transition Updates: The First 100 Days series.